Reportback From The March Against Police Repression

On Saturday, February 22nd, dozens of opponents to the increasing surveillance and policing of Oakland gathered in DeFremery Park. In the last year, the FBI raided several homes across West Oakland, primarily public housing, as well as a YMCA. The Department of Homeland Security wants to build a city-wide surveillance center that could watch anywhere at any given time. The Domain Awareness Center includes cameras in public schools and housing, a clear indication of who will be targeted.

After a brief speaker, detailing the plans for the DAC, a group took the street with a banner declaring "No Cameras In Our Community." The spirited march took off directly towards the police car that was monitoring the rally. As the police rushed to escape the march's path, one person launched a flare at the car, instantly setting the tone for the march.

After chasing the police for a few blocks, the group turned towards downtown, and marched to the Emergency Command Center. The center is located at 17th & MLK, and will be used to house the DAC. Slightly outnumbered by the police line that had formed in front of the building, the march continued on, eventually dispersing by City Hall.

This was the first lead-up demonstration for the International Day Against Police Brutality, for which there will be a march starting from Arroyo Park at noon. Saturday the 1st there will be another lead-up demo starting at 3pm from 14th & Broadway against the Prison-Industrial Complex.