The Occupy Oakland campaigners have agreed to hold a general strike on November 2 to protest the conduct of the Oakland PD during the destruction of an encampment and for using force that critically wounded Iraq veteran Scott Olsen.
Protesters said the aim of the strike was to involve Oakland more aggressively in the global Occupy movement, and to help mobilize millions of Americans to protest against what they see as the excesses of Wall Street, unfair banking regulations and disparities in the nation’s health care system.
The call for a strike originated Wednesday evening during a General Assembly which drew at least a thousand people from all walks of life to Oakland’s Frank Ogawa Plaza, which protesters had turned into a de-facto camp site before police kicked them out last week. Many people said they felt mobilized to participate after seeing videos and pictures from Tuesday night’s violence, when at least 200 riot police from around the Bay Area clashed with protesters, lobbing tear gas, flash-bang grenades and so-called “nonlethal” projectiles to attempt to corral and contain them.
Scott Olsen, a U.S. Marine corporal and Iraqi war veteran remained in intensive care at Highland Hospital after suffering critical wounds to the head from an unidentified police projectile. His condition was improving but as of Thursday evening he remained unable to talk.
Spurred on by Olsen’s injury, the actions of the police and the relative absence of Mayor Jean Quan from the debate, the calls for a general strike gained momentum as the week progressed. Oakland last had a general strike over half a century ago, in 1946, when unions shut the city down for 56 hours. Bars were allowed to remain open, but could only serve beer. Jukeboxes were left to play, but had to be placed on public sidewalks so the maximum number of people could enjoy the music. A commonly heard song was “Pistol Packin’ Mama, Lay that Pistol Down,” a national hit at the time.
Today’s protesters say the next step is to involve as many local and national unions, community organizations, churches and student movements in the shortest time possible.
A general strike can involve an industry, a community or a nation and the largest general strike was May 1968 in France involving eleven million workers for two weeks that critically weakened the de Gaulle government. Not all general strikes payoff with the desired return. The 1926 coal miners strike in the UK lasted nine days and was called to increase wages but eventually union labor was forced to accept a reduction in wages instead.
There is some talk amongst regional Occupy general assemblies to join in the November 2 general strike to express solidarity but also to demonstrate the power of the 99% and just how much the 1% are dependent upon the rest of us.
