Oakland Police OK'd Using Tear Gas
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Newly released records show Oakland police approved using tear gas on protesters leading to a violent clash with Occupy Wall Street demonstrators in late October.
The operational plans for the tear-gas fueled raid on the downtown Occupy camp on Oct. 25 show the department authorized using chemical agents, if commanders on the scene said they needed it to disperse crowds.
The documents released in response to a public records act request by The Associated Press also show undercover officers were shooting video during the early morning raid.
The documents do not clearly state who gave the order to use tear gas.
Images of police actions that day served to galvanize support for the Occupy movement after news emerged that the clash left an Iraq War veteran with serious injuries.
Copyright 2011 The Associated Press.
