- Police use tear gas in heavy clash with protesters
- "We're going to reclaim what was already ours"
- Occupy Wall Street: Let's flog the hell out of it
POLICE have fired stun grenades and tear gas canisters in heavy clashes with hundreds of "Occupy" protesters in Oakland while officers across the country in Atlanta confronted demonstrators refusing to leave their park base.
The Oakland violence came as demonstrators tried to reclaim a plaza they had been using as a campsite before being moved out earlier in the day - an eviction that lead to 79 arrests as many defied the city order to leave.
After several skirmishes earlier, police appeared to have finally dispersed the protesters when they fired tear gas and flash-bang canisters into the crowd, which had grown to between 500 and 1000 demonstrators.
The "Occupy Oakland" protesters carry away a man, who was hit by a tear gas canister shot by the police, near the Oakland City Hall in California. Picture: Kimihiro Hoshino
Source: AFP
Less than two hours later, the protesters had re-formed into a group and police again fired tear gas canisters, the San Jose Mercury News reported.
Meanwhile demonstrators attacked and smashed a California Highway Patrol car parked near the protest.
The protesters started marching after the "Occupy Wall Street"-linked demonstrators held a meeting at the Oakland Public Library, where they decided to try to take back their campsite in Frank H. Ogawa Plaza.
"We're going to reclaim what was already ours," veteran activist Krystof Lopaur said to the crowd.
Authorities had deemed the march illegal, when a large group of demonstrators stopped to rally near a police station in the city centre.
Police were seen deploying smoke grenades, which caused loud noises and filled the area with smoke, after fights broke out between officers and protesters, KTVU reported.
Shortly after, more skirmishes broke out nearby, where protesters threw paint at police. At least two people were arrested during the incident.
A San Jose Mercury News journalist reported that� police launched wooden dowls and some concussion grenades into the crowds. It was not immediately known if anyone was injured during the clashes.
Many protesters were wearing bandannas to shield their eyes and mouths from tear gas.
Police had given protesters five minutes to disperse but around 200 protesters continued to rally near their former campsite - a crowd that grew again as the trouble continued into the night.
"Occupy Oakland" demonstrators had been living in Frank H. Ogawa Plaza for two weeks, when police moved in early Tuesday morning and removed their camp. Police said 79 were arrested during the incident.
Meanwhile, across the country in Georgia, police started arresting "Occupy Atlanta" protesters today after they refused to leave their camp by midnight, myFOXatlanta.com reported.
Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed announced Monday that he was revoking an executive order that had allowed protesters to remain at Woodruff Park after hours.
The "Occupy Oakland" protesters carry away a man, who was hit by a tear gas canister shot by the Police, near the Oakland City Hall on October in California. Picture: Kimihiro Hoshino
Source: AFP
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