Photo by @violentfanon
OAKLAND — Members and supporters of the Third World Resistance group protested Friday morning at the federal building in downtown Oakland, with more than 30 using PVC tubing, chains and U-locks to block the two main entrances.
The peaceful protest drew at least 150 people and began before 7 a.m. at the main entrance to the Ronald V. Dellums Building, 1301 Clay St. and another entrance on Jefferson Street. A prayer dance was held before speakers made their presentations.
The protest ended shortly after 11 a.m. without anyone arrested. Federal police stood by and observed the activity.
The entrance to the courthouse portion of the building was not affected and employees and people with business at the main building were able to get in at an alternate entrance.
Federal officers were in contact with the demonstrators, said Jacqueline C. Yost, Chief of Public Affairs for the Federal Protective Service, in an e-mailed statement. As of 10 a.m., the demonstrators “have remained peaceful and there has been no reported damage due to the demonstration,” Yost said.
A flier stated that the protest was to link the Third World struggle with black resistance. The federal building was targeted, the flier said, “because of its role in promoting war on Black people and people’s struggles for self-determination in the U.S. and around the world.”
Protesters were there “to demonstrate our support for the heightened struggle for Black liberation, power, self-defense and self-determination in the U.S.” the flier stated.
It cited grand jury verdicts in the deaths last year of Michael Brown in Missouri and Eric Garner in New York who were unarmed when they were killed by police. None of the officers involved were indicted. It also cited Tamir Rice, a 12-year-old Cleveland boy killed by a police officer who mistook a toy gun for a real one.
Sanyika Bryant, with the MalcolmX Grass Roots Movement, one of the participating groups, said the protest was about reclaiming Dr. King’s legacy of civil disobedience, militant protest against racism and his legacy of international solidarity with the people of the Third World.
Friday’s protest he said, is in response not only to genocide in the United States but other countries as well, including Palestine, Afghanistan and Pakistan.
The black tubing linking some of the protesters had messages, including “3rd World Unite” and “Black Resistance.” A large balloon held up a banner on Clay Street that said “Black Power Matters” and “#3rdWorld4BlackPower”. Some protesters held signs saying “Filipinos for Black Resistance,” “Palestines for Black Resistance,” “QT. for Black Resistance” and “Latinas for Black Resistance.” Others carried signs that read “Black Resistance Matters” and “Black Power Matters.”