Organizers warned that if the police take action to prevent the occupation, they will take further direct actions. Some possibilities for retaliation include a major blockade of the Oakland International Airport, the Port of Oakland, and City Hall.
Deputy Police Chief Jeff Israel told a reporter for SFgate that the police will "take their normal approach to the protesters," and wait to see what they do.
"If their intention is to occupy a building with the permission of the owner, that is of course legal and we wouldn't get involved," Israel said. "Any other option would necessitate a response from law enforcement, because they're violating the law, and they know that."
With that statement, we can expect to have some form of a police presence. With what we know about the way OPD treats occupy protesters, some are worried that the move in day may turn violent, on the side of the police. The occupiers will not be armed with any weapons and will not be seeking to forcibly hurt anyone, the same cannot be said for the police forces who will be summoned to clear the building.
OPD may ease up on the occupiers a bit as a result of recent trouble with the feds. Last week, court appointed monitors released an investigative report on the department in which they express great concern over the actions taken against Occupy activists. The department is risking a federal takeover if they are unable to make the necessary reforms. Read more about this here.
I will be live streaming on #J28 from the occupation. You can join us online here.
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