BRIAN WILLIAMS, anchor:
Back
out West
we go. In
Oakland
,
California
, it was early this morning before dawn that police in riot gear moved in, broke up a protest that had been peaceful all day long even when it shut down the nation's fifth largest port, but then at the end took a violent turn.
NBC
's
Miguel Almaguer
is in
Oakland
for us again tonight.
Miguel
, good evening.
MIGUEL ALMAGUER reporting:
Brian
, good evening. Tonight the port is reopened, the city of
Oakland
is cleaning up after a violent morning. It was a sour ending to what was for the most part a peaceful day. It was the confrontation
Oakland
wanted to avoid. A small crowd of vandals threw
Molotov cocktails
and chunks of concrete at police.
Unidentified Man #1:
Today was a peaceful day. This could jeopardize people's lives right now.
ALMAGUER:
Officers fired back with tear gas and bean bags to clear away the rioters. More than 80 were arrested.
Chief HOWARD JORDAN (Oakland Police Department Interim Chief):
We consider them anarchists and provocateurs, people intent on causing problems, damage.
ALMAGUER:
The clash shattered what had been a noisy, but mostly peaceful citywide strike. Some 7,000 demonstrators marched and successfully shut down the nation's fifth largest port.
Unidentified Man #2:
Go home!
ALMAGUER:
At nightfall most left. The port reopened this morning.
Mr. JOE JOHNSON (Truck Driver):
I understand them trying to make a point or whatever, but it seems to me that they're hurting, you know, the little guys.
Protesters:
Banks got bailed out, we got sold out!
ALMAGUER:
In Seattle
,
Occupy
protesters blocked hotel doors where the CEO of
JPMorgan Chase
was scheduled to speak. Police used pepper spray to move them.
Unidentified Man #3:
I'm sick and tired of the wealth inequalities in this country.
Protesters:
All day, all week, occupy
Wall Street
!
ALMAGUER:
In New York
today, 17 were arrested when protesters blocked the entrance to
Goldman Sachs
. Back in
Oakland
, yesterday's demonstrators helped with today's cleanup.
Ms. HADAS ALTERMAN (Occupy Oakland):
They do not represent what
Occupy Oakland
or any movement in
Occupy
-- in solidarity with
Occupy Wall Street
is about.
ALMAGUER:
Vandals shattered bank windows, defaced walls and even stormed a
Whole Foods
store.
Mr. DAVID McCOY:
(Whole Foods Cashier): Went from a good, peaceful march and they went haywire when they came down here and started throwing paint, they attacked some of our customers that came out of our store.
ALMAGUER:
The
Occupy Oakland
protesters remain camped out on the steps of
city hall
. They say they are re-energized by yesterday's citywide strike. And despite this
Bay Area
rain,
Brian
, they say they have plans to go nowhere.
WILLIAMS:
Miguel Almaguer
in the
Bay Area
for us tonight.
Miguel
, thanks.
“ ”