Following last week’s scrimmage with the Oakland Police Department, media coverage ramped up for last night’s weekly anti-police march by Occupy Oakland.
Much fewer demonstrators than last week showed up, however this crowd was far less aggressive. Maybe it was because no one was arrested this time. Or because after an initial attempt to quel the march, OPD gave up on the protestors and left them alone most of the night.
Another U.S. flag was burned, but this time it hadn’t been taken from City Hall. Zachary Runningwolf, a regular at these events, brought his own flag and set it ablaze during the beginning of the march.
Runningwolf is of Native American descent and argues that the city of Oakland is actually Ohlone land.
The group was adamant about staying peaceful and non-violent. I didn’t see any damaged property, but of course there was plenty of rage thrown towards cops whenever they came near. I think this is where a lot of the confusion from bystanders originates.
Bystanders on the street see someone covering their face and screaming at cops and assume that they are violent. But supporters would say that the protestor is just expressing their first amendment right and should not be judge in terms of good or bad.
Not sure if or when this disconnect will ever be solved for either party.
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