Oakland Police Video Shows Protesters In City Hall, Burning Flag
OAKLAND (CBS / AP) -- Police have released surveillance video they say shows Occupy demonstrators breaking into City Hall during the protests in Oakland Saturday night.
Oakland police spokeswoman Cynthia Perkins said the protesters were able to get inside the building using what she termed a "pry tool." Once the protesters were inside, police say they removed items including an American Flag.
The start of the black-and-white video shows people coming through the door, then papers being strewn about.
Images from a second camera show a crowd of people on the front stairs, with the American flag being set on fire.
KCBS' Chris Filippi Reports:
In releasing the images, Oakland police investigators are asking members of the public to call police if they recognize people in the crowd.
More than 400 people were arrested Saturday when a midday march escalated into a clash between some rock-throwing protesters and police who responded with tear gas.
KCBS, CBS 5 and Chronicle Insider Phil Matier Reports:
KCBS, CBS 5 and Chronicle Insider Phil Matier said police turned around in a short amount of time with their video assessing that it seems to be a fight for the incriminating images as much as it is a fight on the streets.
"The Occupy mindset is that 'we are taking to the streets. We have a message. We are going to take over buildings and if you try to stop us that is wrong,'" Matier said. "They had more arrests in Alameda County on Saturday night thanks to this demonstration than they've seen since the great protests of Lawrence Livermore Lab 30 years ago."
Matier was referring to the arrest of 1,300 anti-nuclear protesters in 1982.
He commented that both Santa Rita Jail and the Downtown Oakland Jail were swamped with processing those that got arrested.
Related Coverage:
Photo Gallery – Latest Occupy Oakland Protests
Occupy Oakland Members Claim Police Abuse During Protest
Some Occupy Oakland Protesters Told To Stay Away From Plaza
CBS 5 Poll: 'Occupy' Movement Losing Bay Area Support
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