On the early morning of October 25, a violent police raid tore apart the Occupy Oakland encampment at Frank Ogawa Plaza (rechristened "Oscar Grant Plaza" by protestors, after the Oakland man gunned down by police in early 2009) under the cover of darkness while people were still asleep in their tents. With authorization by Mayor Quan, hundreds of baton-wielding police officers used tear gas, flash grenades and rubber bullets on the mostly peaceful crowd, dangerously escalating a situation that in no way called for this level of violence.

To add insult to injury, instead of citing the more than 75 arrested protestors and releasing them, the police will hold them until an October 27th arraignment, where they will be released upon paying a $10,000 bond.

Later in the day on October 25th, Oakland-area police once again set upon peacefully gathered protestors in shocking videos now broadcast across the globe. The whole world is watching. Help set an example for cities around America: Demand Mayor Quan allow the protestors to keep occupying Oscar Grant Plaza, hold accountable those who authorized this needless show of force, and cite and immediately release those arrested.