Los Angeles Indymedia : Activist News

LONG BEACH, California - Heeding the call of Occupy Oakland, which called for a shutdown of west coast ports in response to the brutal eviction of occupy encampments nationwide, and in solidarity with expolited port workers and truckers, about 500 militant occupiers and their friends shut down Terminal J of the Port of Long Beach, the home of SSA Marine, an investment of the criminal enterprise Goldman Sachs and the main stakeholder of the US government.

The marchers were eventually split off from each other by the Los Angeles Port Police. However a group of 300 to 500 people successfully blocked a road that led to one of the SSA piers for a few hours causing traffic snarls and the like. At this point the police phalanx declared the march an unlawful assembly and threatened the Gandhian / King-inspired demonstrators with possible bodily harm from batons, percussion weapons, tasers and finally......nonlethal dog bites.

The Port Police eventually physically pushed the people back for 100 yards or so, at which point the nonviolent protesters turned and walked back to Harry Bridges Park. The rain began to fall heavily as the crowd of now about 200 began to disperse.

Some arrests were made. One for failure to disperse, one for resisting and a number of pedestrian traffic violations were issued.The well known Los Angeles organizer Kwazi Nkrumah was arrested and charged with failure to obey a police officer and walking in a roadway. He is out on bail of 10,000 dollars.

Full report: Occupy the Ports - A Day without Goldman Sachs by Rockero

Occupy The Ports Long Beach, part 1 by Robert Stuart Lowden

Occupy The Ports Long Beach, part 2 by Robert Stuart Lowden

UPDATE: Interview with Nathan, arrested at Long Beach Port shutdown by Rockero

RIVERSIDE - Tuesday, Dec. 06, 2011 – A coalition including Occupy LA, Occupy Riverside, ACCE, Refund California, and SEIU teamed up to defend two families who are facing eviction by sheriffs who protect the profits of JP Morgan Chase and Wells Fargo.

Fraudulent mortgages and a refusal by bankers to negotiate with families struggling to get by has resulted in a huge wave of foreclosures. As people are driven from their homes and neighborhoods, their homes are left empty for months and even years at a time. The banks and the capitalist class have shown over and over that they don't care about anything but their profits and their property.

Ana Casas Williams, her husband James, her mother, and her son reached out to community organizations for help in defending their foreclosed home in South Gate after Wells Fargo refused to modify the conditions of their mortgage. Ana has been fighting stage 4 breast cancer which forced her husband to quit his job to provide full time care for her.

Art D. and his family have been refused the opportunity to modify their mortgage by JPMorgan Chase on their home in Riverside. Art is still employed although the recession has cut into his ability to make the payments at the previous rate.

Today, people from around LA stood up for the right of all people to homes by rallying, speaking out to the media, and taking direct action by setting up their tents in the yards of people facing eviction in order to physically defend the families from the sheriffs who will come to evict them. From the Newswire:

Occupy Our Homes: L.A. Joins a Nationwide Day of Action Against Foreclosures by a wobbly

They Are Not Going to Steal Another Home! by LizardQueen

RIVERSIDE - Wed. Nov. 30, 2011 - While all eyes were on the destruction of the Occupy LA camp Tuesday night. In Riverside police evicted the Occupy Riverside mall encampment. 3 arrests have been reported from the raid. There are also reports of police violence. One person, an Iraq war veteran, is said to have sustained a spinal fracture when police bashed his head into the roof of a police car.

Excerpts from an eye witness account: At 6:15 am, the Riverside Police marched approx. 40 troops to the 9th St. sidewalk, lining them up, and then marched approx. 40 troops onto the University Ave. sidewalk to create a sort of loose perimeter such as in a battlefield, leaving the remaining 24 or so of the 104 troops (as stated by Chief Diaz) to organize the removal, demolition, and hauling away of all tents, signs, and personal belongings not claimed. From the Newswire: Report of the eviction and dispersal of the tents and belonging at Occupy Riverside by John Dingler | Occupy Riverside Also Raided Tuesday Night

PASADENA, December 2, 2011 - Much of the San Gabriel Valley area was hit with a wind storm of unprecedented force Wednesday night. At this time 100,000s of people in the area effected are still without power. Some people are unable to leave their home by car due to fallen trees blocking the street. Wind gusts of up to 100 miles per hour brought down trees and cut power lines. Large hundred year old trees have fallen on some homes causing serious structural damage. Many cars parked on the street have also been crushed by fallen trees. No fatalities have been reported.

Report with photos: Massive Wind Storm Hits San Gabriel Valley Area

LOS ANGELES, November 30, 2011 - The Occupy LA encampment at City Hall was raided late last night and destroyed last night by the LAPD. Police mobilized a force of an estimated 800 officers and formed a tight ring around the surrounding area and then an inner ring around the park. When the raid came hundreds of riot police poured out of the South door of City Hall and flooded the camp. Police quickly surrounding those locked in arms in the South Plaza and began making arrests.

Arrests continued late into the night. The exact count is unclear but estimates put it near 200 people. Those not arrested during the raid staged protests on First Street just East of the park. About 1,000 supporters were able to get to the park before police line went up. Those who did not arrive before 9:00 pm were prevented by police lines from getting to the park. Other late arrivers marched around the police perimeter looking for a way in. For a while some people found ways in through some open buildings, but police caught on and stopped it.

Occupiers have regrouped at the La Placita Church and some tents have been set up there. A general assembly is still planned for tonight at 7:30 pm on the West steps of City Hall. Photos: LAPD RAIDS OCCUPY LA by Marcus

UPDATE, Thursday, Dec 1, 11:30am: Total arrests said to be 292. Most charged for unlawful assembly. Some resisting arrest charges. Hundreds still in jail. Numbers released at this time unclear. Excessive bail set at $5,000. Times 300 arrested means $1.5 million at 10% rate means $150,000 needed in bail money for all arrestees. Bail fund said to be only $12,000. Arraignments expected today, 1:30 pm at 429 Bauchet St. Dept. 80-83. Police claim no force used or injuries but video posted online indicates otherwise. There are reports from Occupy medics of injuries. Unconfirmed reports of rubber bullets fired. Park is now completely fenced off. City is now blaming occupiers for the mess created by police when they destroyed the camp.

Personal Testimony: My Occupy LA Arrest by Patrick Meighan