Steven T. Jones and Rebecca Bowe are out on the streets of Oakland as Occupy Oakland tries to shut down the city. They’re posting live updates on Twitter here. And there’s already some success — the Oakland branches of Wells Fargo, Citibank and Chase have been shut down by the protesters. There are two sound stages set up downtown, and so far, the cops are holding off on any action.
The Chron reports that 13 percent of Oakland’s teachers have joined the general strike and 12 percent of Port workers took the day off from work. Most businesses in downtown Oakland are closed.
It is, our reporters say, “part party, part protest, and an inspiring demonstration of people power.”