Encouraged by events on October 27, Oakland will be having the first general strike in the U.S. since 1946 on November 2. During October, Oakland’s nonviolent protesters, dealt a surprising about-face from Mayor Jean Quan, were brutalized by police using tear gas and rubber bullets. This article tells what it was like.
Tonight I witnessed one of the most incredible things I have ever seen. One night after the Oakland police brutally attacked a thousand nonviolent protesters with tear gas, sound grenades, and rubber bullets, the people of Oakland responded by meeting in a peaceful general assembly of 3000 community members to come to consensus about how to move forward.
The night before was a historic moment in movement history and in my personal commitment to nonviolent change. After an hour of marching with thousands of people through the streets of Oakland, I locked arms with my partner and sat down in a row of protesters 15 feet from a line of heavily armed riot cops.
Buddhist Peace Fellowship Blog
Read about the 1946 General Strike
Original article posted on Buddhist Peace Fellowship blog for Turning Wheel and written by Jacks McNamara.
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