Occupy Oakland Protests Turn Violent

The Occupy Oakland Protest turned violent last night. According to reports, protesters threw concrete chunks, metal pipes, roman candles and molotov cocktails during the unrest. At least 4 protesters were hospitalized and several officers were also injured in the skirmishes. A video of some of the mayhem shows other Occupiers urging masked youths to not get violent, but only with moderate success. Overnight, a contingent of protesters broke into a vacant building, shattered windows, spray painted structures and started fires. As the Occupy movement continues to escalate, clashes with police and arrests in cities across the country have become more widespread. For most, however, the violence is unwelcome as it invites harsh crackdowns from the Police State apparatus and plays into the hands of those that oppose the movement and the right to free assembly. Despite the Oakland protests being marred by clashes with police, the Occupiers did organize a large demonstration at the Port of Oakland which lasted for nearly five hours. More than 4,500 people converged on the port on Wednesday, effectively shutting it down. The Occupy Oakland protests have become one of the most volatile in the worldwide movement, and have escalated ever since a former U.S. marine, Scott Olsen, had his skull fractured after being struck by a police tear gas canister on October 25. Olsen remains hospitalized.