Black bloc Oakland protesters vandalize banks

[nadinbrzezinski]

OAKLAND, California — Thousands of protesters took to the streets of downtown Oakland on Wednesday, as many businesses closed up shop and hundreds of teachers left classrooms to join a citywide strike call.

A small group of black bloc protesters defaced ATMs and broke windows at Wells Fargo, Bank of America and Chase Bank branches as the protesters marched through downtown, according to the Oakland Tribune.

A group of protesters also vandalized a Whole Foods store and someone spray-painted “fuck” on the side of the Christ the Light Cathedral.


http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/11/02/oakland-heeds-general-strike-call-port-targeted/

Not surprised.

[DCKit]

1. I really wish they hadn't done that, but the anger in Oakland is understandable.

Saw a sign on the news tonight (from Oakland) "Bought My House For $415K, Now It's Worth $168K".

They are us, but seem to be suffering a whole lot more out there.

[nadinbrzezinski]

2. Oh blac bloc are not with you

They're there to provide excuse to bash heads. Only five bidnesses, they were run out of town.

[DCKit]

6. Thanks for the heads-up. nt

[dkf]

3. I'm reading that "black bloc" is a tactic, not a group.

[nadinbrzezinski]

4. It's evolved...

And as to group I am willing to bet agent provocateours inc.

[alcibiades_mystery]

5. Incorrect

I worked with Black Bloc in San Francisco, 1998-1999. They are not provocateurs, as much as the liberals on this board try to claim that they are. They actually genuinely believe in the tactics, and they are not necessarily incorrect. In some cases, it doesn't work at all, and many people who deploy black bloc tactics themselves understand that and go with the consensus. In other cases, it does serve to provoke the authorities into action, which they consider useful and strategically justifiable for a number of reasons. In some cases, I agree. In other cases, no. In this case, I would tend to argue against these tactics because other tactics are actually working well. In Seattle in 1999, the Black Bloc tactics were successful (and anybody who claims they weren't doesn't know much about how it unfolded). There is an argument to be made for defamiliarizing the everyday spaces of capital, for carving out temporary zones where capital is not in complete control of of everyday space. The temporary autonomous zone, and etc.

I know a lot of you liberals automatically assume that Black Bloc protest tactics are agent provocateurs, but you really couldn't be more wrong. They simply disagree with you on strategy and tactics. In some cases, you are right. In some cases (Seattle especially), they are.

[nadinbrzezinski]

7. Well when one is caught with a gun and badge

And sooner or later it will.

It's evolved into a tactic used by PDs as well.

[alcibiades_mystery]

11. It's a common slander

I don't blame you for engaging in it, however trifling and ludicrous I find it.

If you have an argument to make about tactics, by all means make it. This sort of name-calling is silly and ahistorical.

[nadinbrzezinski]

12. When it happens we will reengage in this discussion

Some are anarchists, some are hangers on, some are something else. Sooner or later that will emerge n

The FBI used other groups in the sixtires to same effect. That is how ahistorical this observation is.

[alcibiades_mystery]

13. Oh yes

Your "research."

I forgot.

There is no doubt that authorities do and have used tactics within social movements. But your call to wait on actual evidence tells the whole story. The purpose of historical research is not to find models that you apply hither thither without actual evidence. If that's how your research is proceeding, you should perhaps revisit your MA notes.

[nadinbrzezinski]

14. So you think police will never ever do this

I think we're done.

[alcibiades_mystery]

15. What part of

"There is no doubt that authorities do and have used tactics within social movements."

You translate "There is no doubt that people do this" to "They will never do this?"

Is this how you read your historical sources, too?

Rather shocking. The point is that you have no evidence in this particular case, and yes, the particular is rather important when you're doing historical research. Models and patterns are fine, but when you apply them irresponsibly, you are not being a good scholar or commentator.

[nadinbrzezinski]

16. When it is sop for police intel units to penetrate movements...

You got friends I get it, by the way.

Buy bye

[Laluchacontinua]

19. it's not a slander, there are numerous documented cases in the last 10 years alone.

I think suspicion is warranted when you find black bloc/anarchists vandalizing etc. in the present situation.

[Laluchacontinua]

17. And in some cases, they're cops.

[nadinbrzezinski]

18. Welcome to du

:hi:

[mulsh]

8. Whole Foods and Christ the Light Cathedral are both about a

mile away in the wrong direction from the heart of Occupy Oakland. They are in the opposite direction of the Port of Oakland.

What purpose would going over there and graffiti-ing their walls serve?

[dkf]

10. Sounds like someone had an agenda.

Some protesters (reportedly with the anarchist Black Bloc contingent) vandalized a Whole Foods minutes ago after rumors circulated the store had threatened to fire employees who left work to join the protest.

http://m.theatlanticwire.com/national/2011/11/oakland-protest-starts-unrelated-work-stoppage/44476/

[emilyg]

9. This is not the way to do it.

[dana_b]

20. I was there

and yes, it was a small bloc of anarchists. Most of us were shouting at them "Peaceful protest!!". However in the big picture, are some broken windows that big of an issue? I know we want the media on our side but they are not going to be. The issue is the violence that the banks and corporations are putting on us.

Here is the whole foods market:


BofA


BofA


Chase


See the anarchist flags

[nadinbrzezinski]

21. I was thinking of you while doing live blogging here

:-).

[dana_b]

22. thanks

you were definitely there in spirit!! :)

[dana_b]

23. Oh! There is a "Occupy Oakland Cleanup today" on FB:

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=241468082574550

Time
Thursday, November 3 · 11:30am - 2:30pm
Location
14th & Broadway Oakland
Created By
The Golden Mean, Jon Sarriugarte
For The Golden Mean
More Info
Bring your graffiti clean up gear, brooms and a good attitude and lets clean up the mess made by the anarchists last night. Lets not let those people destroy the wonderful protest we had yesterday!

So the protestors are NOT happy with the anarchists and are responsible people.

[nadinbrzezinski]

24. Good.

They need to be driven away/ exposed.

[LongTomH]

25. +1000 for the Occupy Oakland Cleanup people!

:yourock: