UCPD Raid Occupy The Farm – “Reconvergence” Planned for Tuesday
After nearly one month of successfully occupying prime agricultural land outside of Oakland California, activists were evicted by force when the University of California sent more than 100 officers from various campuses in for an early morning raid on Monday. Altogether nine people were arrested, two on suspicion of trespass and seven on suspicion of failure to leave an unlawful assembly.
As the activists were gathering their things and moving away from the farm, police declared their assembly to be unlawful. After a few dispersal announcements, police moved across the two lane street and began making arrests.
Among the arrested was live streamer ‘WorthofTheWorld,’ who happens to be a personal friend of mine. Worth, as she’s known, was filming an arrest along side a local news station’s reporter when she was informed that she herself was under arrest. In the final seconds of Worth’s live stream footage you can see a pair of cops approach her and carry out their assault. “Why am I under arrest? Why am I being arrested? I am filming! I am filming! You’re hurting my fucking wrists,” yelled the detained independent reporter.
Later in the day as a group of farm supporters gathered on the north side of the field, a determined farmer hopped the fence and began watering his crops despite the heavy police presence. With his face covered and at least two dozen riot police less than 20 yards away, the militant crop care taker ran up and down the rows splashing water on the seedlings below. Once a pair of police started after him on a four-wheel drive golf cart, supporters yelled through the fence for him to make his escape.
The scene was something out of a dark fairy tale. Police in riot gear stomping on seedlings, riding ATV’s over crops, aiming pepper ball guns at dispersing sustainable food activists and all the while taking some sort of sick pleasure from the pillage of a blossoming urban village.
Supporters quickly began organizing solidarity efforts via social networking sites like Twitter and Facebook. A march to the UC Chancellor’s house is set to begin Monday night at 9pm. Organizers are also planning a “reconvergence” at the Albany community center at 1249 Marin Ave., at 5 PM Tuesday. Whether that means reoccupation remains to be seen.
As of 8:30 Monday evening, seven of the nine arrestees have been released, including Worth. I’ve been told that some of those released have been issued stay away orders from UC property. Stay away orders have become a staple for east bay oppressors in recent months. Over a dozen others face arrest for being within 300 yards of Oakland’s city hall. For in-depth coverage and frequent updates on Occupy the Farm, visit Albany Patch.
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