Occupy San Francisco Dismantled as Police Clear 100
Occupy San Francisco was dismantled this morning and 70 people were arrested in the raid.
The Occupy group had been camping in Justin Herman Plaza for approximately two months when police showed up at 1:00 a.m. this morning and gave them a five-minute warning to evacuate the area. When people refused to move out, the police moved in.
Reports estimate that there were 100 people living in the plaza. About 100 officers took part in the action, according to Reuters.
According to police spokesman Albie Esparaza, 70 people were “arrested on suspicion of illegal lodging and camping in a public park.”
There was little violence, though the “San Francisco Chronicle” reported one police officer was injured after being hit in the face with a chair. He was not hospitalized but two people were arrested for the assault.
Occupy Wall Street press member Mark Bray told The Christian Post “We [Occupy Wall Street] stand in solidarity with Occupy San Francisco and other Occupy movements. It is regrettable that superficial pretenses are being used…to repress a vibrant American movement.”
Bray added: “The funds used by the authorities to send in the police force should be used to help the 99 percent. We have been in contact with Occupy San Francisco and have offered them our support.”
The Occupy Movement has spread across the nation and internationally in a short space of time. It is described as “a people-powered movement that began on Sept. 17, 2011…and has spread to over 100 cities and actions in over 1,500 cities globally.”
Police have recently begun leading raids on Occupy encampments in order to clean the areas, which are often homes for hundreds of people. The encampments usually lack proper sanitation and have been described as breeding grounds for health problems.
Recent actions by the occupiers have included a demonstration on Congress and the occupation of foreclosed homes.
