The Occupy movement targeted May Day as the day "the
people of the planet will take to the streets." Crowds formed in many
major cities, joining protesters worldwide on International Workers Day
to demand economic equality. But the day remained mostly peaceful.
Promised stoppages of mass transportation and commerce by the Occupy
movement largely fizzled across the country.
Overall, there were a modest number of arrests and clashes in a
handful of cities. Many of the demonstrators reported splinter groups
dressed mostly in black who turned demonstrations violent.
Here's a roundup of flashpoints in the United States:
Seattle
Mayor Mike McGinn authorized a seizure of potential weapons after
crowds of vandals dressed in black known as the "Black Bloc" smashed
up banks and other businesses with sticks, batons, and rocks, reports
the Seattle Times.
Niketown and American Apparel downtown were hit. A half dozen Starbucks closed early after stores reported broken windows.
At least two were arrested during the vandalism spree. Police said
the vandals dressed in black were hard to track because they discarded
their clothing to blend in with onlookers. Tear gas was used to stop
some of the vandals.
The protesters also took out their anger at the U.S. Court of
Appeals building, shooting paint balls at it, shattering glass doors,
and attempting to ignite an incendiary device.
Los Angeles
Not officially part of Occupy, employees at Los Angeles
International Airport joined May Day demonstrations to protest the
hiring of non-union workers. Ten were arrested for blocking an
intersection near LAX, reports CBS LA.
In another gathering in downtown, a group of protesters appeared to
surround LAPD officers, reports the L.A. Times. A female officer was
struck in the head with a skateboard, denting her helmet. She was
taken to the hospital, but the injury was not life-threatening.
The incident marred a "festive" atmosphere during protests earlier in the day.
San Francisco Bay Area
In Oakland, police using tear gas confronted a protest of about 400
downtown. Nine were arrested and at least one demonstrator was
reportedly tasered. Protesters blocked streets throughout the day and
vandalized two banks in the area. A news van and police vehicle were
also vandalized.
Earlier plans to shut down the Golden Gate Bridge were abandoned.
Golden Gate Ferry workers, however, went on strike over health care
coverage and morning service was canceled.
A group of a protesters tried to take over a building owned by the
Archdiocese of San Francisco -- the same one protesters briefly
occupied as a commune on April 1, reports CBS SF. A protester dressed
in black threw pipes and bricks from the roof of a building at police.
Two arrests were made.
The evening before hundreds gathered in the Mission District in San
Francisco. As the group began to march through the streets, some
protesters began breaking car windows, spray-painting anarchist symbols
on restaurants and attacking a police station.
One Occupy SF protester disavowed the violence. "I know Occupiers,"
Jesse Smith told KTVU. "None of us have any idea who they were."
One person was arrested.
New York City
Hundreds from Occupy Wall Street
marched over the Williamsburg Bridge from Brooklyn to Manhattan, but
did not shut down any bridges or tunnels as organizers earlier had
planned.
About 30 protesters were
arrested over the course of the day for mostly minor charges, ranging
from resisting arrest to blocking street traffic, reports the New York
Daily News. Confrontations were scattered around the city. There was a
skirmish on the Lower East Side with masked protesters who may not be
part of the main Occupy group.
Letters containing a white
powder that turned out to be cornstarch were sent to various New York
banks and media outlets, and one was sent to Mayor Michael Bloomberg,
reports the Associated Press.
The letters read "Happy May Day..This is a reminder that you are not in control.." said authorities.
Cleveland
Five people, claiming to be anarchists, have been arrested in Cleveland for trying to blow up a four-lane bridge across the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. The local Occupy crowd said they were a part of their operation, but have now distanced themselves.
The suspects had bought fake
explosives and placed them near the bridge Monday. The suspects were
arrested after 9 p.m. Monday, according to WEWS.
The public was never in danger from the devices, according to Fox News.
The explosive devices were inoperable and controlled by an undercover
FBI agent. Charges against the suspects were filed Tuesday morning.