Some people were wearing bandanas over their mouths and others were holding signs saying, “We are the 99%.” A marching band dressed in pink and black tutus and neon pink tights also was in the crowd.
Occupy Oakland demonstrators shield themselves from an explosion Saturday during a confrontation with the police near the Oakland Museum of California in Oakland, Calif.
Oakland police used tear gas and “flash” grenades Saturday to break up an estimated 2,000 Occupy protesters after some demonstrators started throwing objects at officers and tearing down fencing. There were at least 19 arrests, but no reports of serious injuries.
Officer Jeff Thomason said police started making arrests when some in the crowd started throwing objects at them. Police declared an unlawful assembly after marchers tore down perimeter fences at the vacant Henry Kaiser Convention Center.
Three officers were injured, police said, but did not elaborate.
After meeting up at Frank Ogawa Plaza around noon, protesters marched toward the convention center in hopes of making it their new meeting place and social center, NBCBayArea.com reported.
Oakland officials said about 250 people were in the group when the protest started but the crowd grew to about 2,000.
@OaklandPoliceCA tweeted around 3 p.m., “Area of Oakland Museum and Kaiser Center severely impacted. Persons cutting and tearing fences for entry. Bottles and objects thrown at OPD.”
[…]
