Officers hurt in Occupy clash at Calif. Capitol

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — At least two law enforcement officers were injured Monday during a clash with members of the Occupy movement who were at the state Capitol to counter a rally by a group protesting violence by blacks against whites in South Africa.

The clash erupted in the afternoon as California Highway Patrol and Sacramento police officers were escorting about 35 members of the South Africa Project to a parking garage after their protest outside the Capitol building.

About 50 members of Occupy Oakland began throwing cans and bottles at the South Africa group and at the officers. The Occupy members then clashed with the officers as people with the pro-whites group hurried into the parking garage.

"It was the activists across the street engaging the officers," said CHP officer Sean Kennedy.

Two officers suffered minor injuries and were taken to a hospital. CHP Capt. Andy Menard said one officer who was struck in the face by an object was released from the hospital. The second officer was getting X-rays after apprehending a person suspected of throwing objects, Menard said.

Kennedy said the officer who was struck by an object was showing signs of possibly being affected by some type of chemical or pepper spray.

The CHP arrested three members of the Occupy group on suspicion of disobeying an officer.

The violence abated after a large contingent of law enforcement arrived at the scene, about a block from the Capitol.

The clash followed a tense afternoon during which peace officers kept the two groups separated outside the Capitol.

Members of the South Africa Project were trying to draw attention to what they said is black-on-white violence in that country. Organizers said similar demonstrations were planned in other states and elsewhere in California.

The group was mostly male and white, some with shaved heads and prominent tattoos.

Many of the Occupy protesters, some wearing hoods or masks, said they came from the San Francisco Bay area to counter what they called a racist group affiliated with former Louisiana Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke.

Morris Gulett, a spokeman for the South Africa Project, called the clash in Sacramento unfortunate.

"It's not surprising that the counter-protesters got in the way of the peaceful march we wanted it to be," Gulett said. "Our intention was to conduct a peaceful march."

Occupy protesters had been cursing at the South Africa Project rally and at officers keeping the two sides apart.

Ryan Stark, 26, who said he is part of Occupy Sacramento, said he joined the protesters challenging the South Africa Project protesters because there needed to be a showdown.

"I didn't throw anything ... but these sorts of demonstrations need to happen," he said, referring to the counter protest. "They do have the right to say what they want, but we're not going to let it fly."

The public was being kept away from the scene of the confrontation by police officers, who were not commenting to reporters. The city's light rail system was stopped through the section of downtown where the clash occurred, and commuters were not allowed to leave the area.

Earlier in the day, a 17-year-old girl with Occupy Oakland was taken to Juvenile Hall after she became combative and assaulted an officer who asked her to pick up litter, Kennedy said.

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Associated Press photographer Rich Pedroncelli contributed to this report.

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U.K. police arrest 20 as they dismantle Occupy camp

LONDON (AP) — Authorities dismantled Occupy London's camp outside the famous St. Paul's Cathedral in a dramatic early hours raid Tuesday, clearing away one of the longest-surviving encampments inspired by the New York protest against capitalist excess.

The City of London police said 20 people had been arrested as officers removed tents and equipment from outside the 300-year-old church, where demonstrators had camped since mid-October.

As riot police surrounded the encampment, bailiffs in fluorescent jackets hauled camping equipment into waiting trucks and refuse bins — though there was little sign of the violence that has accompanied the clearance of several Occupy sites in the U.S.

Protesters waved flags and banged tambourines, though a small number crafted a makeshift wooden structure opposite the cathedral and scaled it in an attempt to obstruct the eviction.

Britain's High Court last Wednesday rejected the protesters' legal challenge to an eviction order. Local authorities claimed the camp had harmed nearby businesses, caused waste and hygiene problems, and attracted crime and disorder.

"It's really sad what's happening today but I think we can be proud of what we've achieved," said Kai Wargalla, a 27-year-old student from Germany who had camped outside St. Paul's since October. "Our community is being attacked here, but we're going to reconvene and come back stronger."

Wargalla said she expected some demonstrators to join a smaller protest camp at Finsbury Square, close to financial and legal companies in central London. Others insisted that protesters would return to continue to meet outside St. Paul's, though they would no longer attempt to camp there.

"It's only tents and materials the injunction applies to so I think some protesters will be back," said demonstrator Gary Sherborne, 50.

The City of London Corporation, the local authority that secured the eviction, said it hoped to reopen the area around St. Paul's to tourists and local workers as soon as possible. Parts of surrounding streets had been barricaded to contain the size of the encampment.

"It is regrettable that it had to come to the need for removal but the High Court judgment speaks for itself," said Stuart Fraser, of the City of London Corporation. "The site has now been cleared and the area is undergoing a deep clean."

Protesters set up camp outside the cathedral after they were thwarted in an attempt to demonstrate in front of the nearby London Stock Exchange.

Their proximity to Christopher Wren's architectural icon embroiled the church in a conflict between bank-bashing protesters and the city's finance industry. The church's position on the protesters has shifted several times, and the cathedral's dean and a senior priest both resigned over the impasse.

"Riot police clearing the steps of St. Paul's Cathedral was a terrible sight. This is a sad day for the Church," said Giles Fraser, who resigned as canon chancellor of St. Paul's in solidarity with the protesters.

In a statement, St Paul's Cathedral said clergy were available to provide support to those involved in the eviction. "We regret the camp had to be removed by bailiffs but we are fully committed to continuing to promote these issues through our worship, teaching and Institute," the statement said,

It said that dialogue between protesters and clergy since the camp was opened had seen both sides "re-examine important issues about social and economic justice and the role the cathedral can play."

____

Online:

Occupy London: http://occupylsx.org/

View the original article here

U.K. police arrest 20 as they dismantle Occupy camp

LONDON (AP) — Authorities dismantled Occupy London's camp outside the famous St. Paul's Cathedral in a dramatic early hours raid Tuesday, clearing away one of the longest-surviving encampments inspired by the New York protest against capitalist excess.

The City of London police said 20 people had been arrested as officers removed tents and equipment from outside the 300-year-old church, where demonstrators had camped since mid-October.

As riot police surrounded the encampment, bailiffs in fluorescent jackets hauled camping equipment into waiting trucks and refuse bins — though there was little sign of the violence that has accompanied the clearance of several Occupy sites in the U.S.

Protesters waved flags and banged tambourines, though a small number crafted a makeshift wooden structure opposite the cathedral and scaled it in an attempt to obstruct the eviction.

Britain's High Court last Wednesday rejected the protesters' legal challenge to an eviction order. Local authorities claimed the camp had harmed nearby businesses, caused waste and hygiene problems, and attracted crime and disorder.

"It's really sad what's happening today but I think we can be proud of what we've achieved," said Kai Wargalla, a 27-year-old student from Germany who had camped outside St. Paul's since October. "Our community is being attacked here, but we're going to reconvene and come back stronger."

Wargalla said she expected some demonstrators to join a smaller protest camp at Finsbury Square, close to financial and legal companies in central London. Others insisted that protesters would return to continue to meet outside St. Paul's, though they would no longer attempt to camp there.

"It's only tents and materials the injunction applies to so I think some protesters will be back," said demonstrator Gary Sherborne, 50.

The City of London Corporation, the local authority that secured the eviction, said it hoped to reopen the area around St. Paul's to tourists and local workers as soon as possible. Parts of surrounding streets had been barricaded to contain the size of the encampment.

"It is regrettable that it had to come to the need for removal but the High Court judgment speaks for itself," said Stuart Fraser, of the City of London Corporation. "The site has now been cleared and the area is undergoing a deep clean."

Protesters set up camp outside the cathedral after they were thwarted in an attempt to demonstrate in front of the nearby London Stock Exchange.

Their proximity to Christopher Wren's architectural icon embroiled the church in a conflict between bank-bashing protesters and the city's finance industry. The church's position on the protesters has shifted several times, and the cathedral's dean and a senior priest both resigned over the impasse.

"Riot police clearing the steps of St. Paul's Cathedral was a terrible sight. This is a sad day for the Church," said Giles Fraser, who resigned as canon chancellor of St. Paul's in solidarity with the protesters.

In a statement, St Paul's Cathedral said clergy were available to provide support to those involved in the eviction. "We regret the camp had to be removed by bailiffs but we are fully committed to continuing to promote these issues through our worship, teaching and Institute," the statement said,

It said that dialogue between protesters and clergy since the camp was opened had seen both sides "re-examine important issues about social and economic justice and the role the cathedral can play."

____

Online:

Occupy London: http://occupylsx.org/

View the original article here

U.K. police arrest 20 as they dismantle Occupy camp

LONDON (AP) — Authorities dismantled Occupy London's camp outside the famous St. Paul's Cathedral in a dramatic early hours raid Tuesday, clearing away one of the longest-surviving encampments inspired by the New York protest against capitalist excess.

The City of London police said 20 people had been arrested as officers removed tents and equipment from outside the 300-year-old church, where demonstrators had camped since mid-October.

As riot police surrounded the encampment, bailiffs in fluorescent jackets hauled camping equipment into waiting trucks and refuse bins — though there was little sign of the violence that has accompanied the clearance of several Occupy sites in the U.S.

Protesters waved flags and banged tambourines, though a small number crafted a makeshift wooden structure opposite the cathedral and scaled it in an attempt to obstruct the eviction.

Britain's High Court last Wednesday rejected the protesters' legal challenge to an eviction order. Local authorities claimed the camp had harmed nearby businesses, caused waste and hygiene problems, and attracted crime and disorder.

"It's really sad what's happening today but I think we can be proud of what we've achieved," said Kai Wargalla, a 27-year-old student from Germany who had camped outside St. Paul's since October. "Our community is being attacked here, but we're going to reconvene and come back stronger."

Wargalla said she expected some demonstrators to join a smaller protest camp at Finsbury Square, close to financial and legal companies in central London. Others insisted that protesters would return to continue to meet outside St. Paul's, though they would no longer attempt to camp there.

"It's only tents and materials the injunction applies to so I think some protesters will be back," said demonstrator Gary Sherborne, 50.

The City of London Corporation, the local authority that secured the eviction, said it hoped to reopen the area around St. Paul's to tourists and local workers as soon as possible. Parts of surrounding streets had been barricaded to contain the size of the encampment.

"It is regrettable that it had to come to the need for removal but the High Court judgment speaks for itself," said Stuart Fraser, of the City of London Corporation. "The site has now been cleared and the area is undergoing a deep clean."

Protesters set up camp outside the cathedral after they were thwarted in an attempt to demonstrate in front of the nearby London Stock Exchange.

Their proximity to Christopher Wren's architectural icon embroiled the church in a conflict between bank-bashing protesters and the city's finance industry. The church's position on the protesters has shifted several times, and the cathedral's dean and a senior priest both resigned over the impasse.

"Riot police clearing the steps of St. Paul's Cathedral was a terrible sight. This is a sad day for the Church," said Giles Fraser, who resigned as canon chancellor of St. Paul's in solidarity with the protesters.

In a statement, St Paul's Cathedral said clergy were available to provide support to those involved in the eviction. "We regret the camp had to be removed by bailiffs but we are fully committed to continuing to promote these issues through our worship, teaching and Institute," the statement said,

It said that dialogue between protesters and clergy since the camp was opened had seen both sides "re-examine important issues about social and economic justice and the role the cathedral can play."

____

Online:

Occupy London: http://occupylsx.org/

View the original article here

U.K. police arrest 20 as they dismantle Occupy camp

LONDON (AP) — Authorities dismantled Occupy London's camp outside the famous St. Paul's Cathedral in a dramatic early hours raid Tuesday, clearing away one of the longest-surviving encampments inspired by the New York protest against capitalist excess.

The City of London police said 20 people had been arrested as officers removed tents and equipment from outside the 300-year-old church, where demonstrators had camped since mid-October.

As riot police surrounded the encampment, bailiffs in fluorescent jackets hauled camping equipment into waiting trucks and refuse bins — though there was little sign of the violence that has accompanied the clearance of several Occupy sites in the U.S.

Protesters waved flags and banged tambourines, though a small number crafted a makeshift wooden structure opposite the cathedral and scaled it in an attempt to obstruct the eviction.

Britain's High Court last Wednesday rejected the protesters' legal challenge to an eviction order. Local authorities claimed the camp had harmed nearby businesses, caused waste and hygiene problems, and attracted crime and disorder.

"It's really sad what's happening today but I think we can be proud of what we've achieved," said Kai Wargalla, a 27-year-old student from Germany who had camped outside St. Paul's since October. "Our community is being attacked here, but we're going to reconvene and come back stronger."

Wargalla said she expected some demonstrators to join a smaller protest camp at Finsbury Square, close to financial and legal companies in central London. Others insisted that protesters would return to continue to meet outside St. Paul's, though they would no longer attempt to camp there.

"It's only tents and materials the injunction applies to so I think some protesters will be back," said demonstrator Gary Sherborne, 50.

The City of London Corporation, the local authority that secured the eviction, said it hoped to reopen the area around St. Paul's to tourists and local workers as soon as possible. Parts of surrounding streets had been barricaded to contain the size of the encampment.

"It is regrettable that it had to come to the need for removal but the High Court judgment speaks for itself," said Stuart Fraser, of the City of London Corporation. "The site has now been cleared and the area is undergoing a deep clean."

Protesters set up camp outside the cathedral after they were thwarted in an attempt to demonstrate in front of the nearby London Stock Exchange.

Their proximity to Christopher Wren's architectural icon embroiled the church in a conflict between bank-bashing protesters and the city's finance industry. The church's position on the protesters has shifted several times, and the cathedral's dean and a senior priest both resigned over the impasse.

"Riot police clearing the steps of St. Paul's Cathedral was a terrible sight. This is a sad day for the Church," said Giles Fraser, who resigned as canon chancellor of St. Paul's in solidarity with the protesters.

In a statement, St Paul's Cathedral said clergy were available to provide support to those involved in the eviction. "We regret the camp had to be removed by bailiffs but we are fully committed to continuing to promote these issues through our worship, teaching and Institute," the statement said,

It said that dialogue between protesters and clergy since the camp was opened had seen both sides "re-examine important issues about social and economic justice and the role the cathedral can play."

____

Online:

Occupy London: http://occupylsx.org/

View the original article here