According to the Daily Kos, and other blogs, a number of the 400 people arrested during last Saturday’s Occupy Oakland protest were sent to Santa Rita Jail, and of those who were not able to make bail set, they’re reportedly being tortured. Yes, you did read that correctly.
Here’s what was presented at Daily Kos’ member’s AoT:
Just got out of Santa Rita Jail last night the prisoners from the Oakland Commune were being denied medications (some had seizures) while the guards said they didnt care if they died. Some people were brutally beaten. The put tear gas in the vents of my cell twice. They were keeping people without restrooms forcing them to shit and piss themselves or puke all over and stay in the same area….
I’m disappointed but not surprised this is happening. The fact is our culture has degenerated such that the prison system is really a place for inhuman torture. Moreover, I’d bet the prison guards think they’re teaching the jailed protestors how hard life behind bars is in a “scared straight” kind of way. Only the prison guards aren’t faking their behavior; they’re for real and want to break the Occupy Oakland members.
This obviously isn’t right, but the only way you or anyone else is going to change things is to complain to your elected officials and make them act. Calling the Alameda County Sheriff’s Department at (510) 272-6878 will not do much, but it’s worth doing just to make noise and annoy the office.
Also donate to the bail fund here: http://occupyoakland.org/2012/01/occupy-oakland-needs-bail-funds-donation-link-attached/
The bottom line is Occupy Oakland protestors can expect more of these kinds of inhuman approaches to their actions because many in Oakland have become fed up with the direction of the movement. I’m not saying this is right, it’s not, but it is the current climate of feeling toward the protestors. That does not mean basic rights should not be violated, but that’s what’s happening by law enforcement.
Occupy Oakland Protestors Escape Police Via YMCA
The video you’re about to see features a dramatic chase where Occupy Oakland protestors successfully eluded law enforcement officials who can be seen rushing toward them. From the video description, one of the group members is a member of the Oakland YMCA on Broadway, and used their cardkey to let them in and while “Y” members were working out.
Also, of those who were released from Santa Rita Jail, some (one blog reported “many”) were having trouble getting their private property returned. That’s an outrage.
What’s happening here is that law enforcement’s using the public’s decreased support for Occupy Oakland as a reason to be inhuman. Say, I thought the Federal Government was now watching the Oakland Police Department, but that’s the point: the areas of law enforcement we’re talking about aren’t the City of Oakland Police. So, they get off scot-free.
The Occupy Oakland movement must have, and indeed looks like it’s on the way to figuring out, a different way. The prison industrial complex has become a place for people who, in some cases, have some really whacked views of society, and I’m talking about the people who run the facilities, like Santa Rita. The best approach is to just say away from that cesspool of ill-tempered people who get off on harming others behind closed jail doors, and try some way that’s more effective at change.
Stay tuned.