Occupy Oakland Protesters Gather Again

A crowd gathered around Frank Ogawa Plaza, where police shut down a tent city on Tuesday.

At least 500 Oakland protesters gathered at Frank Ogawa Plaza again Wednesday evening.

They came to reclaim the site of their encampment, which was raided by police early Tuesday morning.

The entire plaza was not barricaded as it had been Tuesday night but the grass area of the plaza was blocked by a chain-link fence. Live helicopter video of the gathering appeared peaceful at 6:15 p.m., but some protesters were shaking the fence surrounding the park.

The fences came down at Oakland's Frank Ogawa Plaza Wednesday evening while a general assembly meeting continues among "Occupy Oakland" protesters.

At least 500 protesters gathered at the plaza to reclaim the site of their encampment, which was raided by police early Tuesday morning.

The entire plaza was not barricaded in the evening as it had been Tuesday night, but the grass area of the plaza was blocked by a chain-link fence.

Many of the protesters jeered when a small group tried to take the fences down

"I see this as a trap," said a speaker at the meeting, pointing to the fence surrounding the grass area of the plaza. "They're hoping we walk right into this trap."

At around 7 p.m. Wednesday evening around 50 to 100 protesters succeed in tearing down sections of the fence on the opposite side of the plaza from where the meeting is taking place.

The group entered the grassy area, which city officials said was in the process of being cleaned using chemicals.

Tuesday night, police blocked the entire plaza including surrounding streets and kept the protesters from entering using tear gas, rubber bullets and smoke grenades.

Compared to Tuesday night's demonstration, the police presence this evening is much less prevalent and the gathering has been peaceful.

Wednesday evening, protesters sat in a circle in the amphitheater in front of City Hall to hold their general assembly meeting, as they did every night when the Oakland encampment occupied the plaza.

Protesters at the meeting Wednesday night announced that "Occupy Wall Street" -- the protest that inspired "Occupy Oakland" -- donated $20,000 to the Oakland demonstration.

Speakers Wednesday evening urged protesters to keep the commitment to nonviolence.

"The 99 percent should have a monopoly on peace," one speaker said.

Protesters at the meeting announced that "Occupy Wall Street" -- the protest that inspired "Occupy Oakland" -- donated $20,000 to the Oakland demonstration.

Bay City News contributed to this report.

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