Occupy Oakland Hosting Forum on Police Actions; CPRB Forum Cancelled

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 2, 2012 - Oakland, CA - Occupy Oakland is hosting a Forum on Police Actions on February 9, 6:15 pm at the Grand Lake Theater.

The Citizens Police Review Board (CPRB) announced yesterday that they had indefinitely postponed a forum which had been in the works for months. This forum had been intended to allow the community to discuss the Oakland Police Department's handling of Occupy Oakland.

Police actions on January 28 show that this forum is more needed than ever, and that the OPD has not made any significant progress or reforms since they shot Scott Olsen in the head on October 25.

On January 28, the Oakland police:

* arrested a half-dozen journalists
* violently beat many protesters, including at least one lying motionless on the ground
* tear gassed a crowd which was kettled and had no way to disperse
* illegally mass arrested hundreds of protesters without giving a valid notice to disperse
* protesters were handcuffed for hours until their hands turned blue; yet OPD refused to loosen the cuffs

In light of these most recent actions by the police, we find it to be outrageous that the CPRB has decided to postpone their forum.

Thus, Occupy Oakland is hosting a forum to take its place. The time is unchanged, the agenda will remain similar, and the same people will be invited. The community, the press, and city officials are all invited to attend and listen. There will be a public speaking section at the end of the forum.

Jim Chanin (civil rights lawyer from the Riders case) and lawyers from the NLG have already RSVP'd. The CPRB has been invited to give a presentation about their agency. And the newly appointed Chief Jordan will be invited for a Q&A session.

Federal monitors overseeing OPD's Consent Decree have requested a video tape of the forum to use in their own investigations.


CONTACT:

Occupy Oakland Forum Committee
oakland [at] occupyreport.org