Organizers with Oakland's chapter of the Occupy Wall Street movement are preparing for a general strike for tomorrow, saying they'll march, shut down banks and corporations and close the port of Oakland in the evening. The extraordinary actions are set to begin at 9 am with a convergence on Frank Ogawa Plaza, which protesters have taken over and renamed Oscar Grant Plaza. They're planning a 9:55 am flashmob action and a 10:05 am morning march on downtown banks. At least one such bank -- One California Bank -- says it will close rather than face protesters. Others, including Wells Fargo Bank, which has a towering office building a short distance from the Occupy Oakland encampment, have said they will remain open but acknowledged those plans could change. Organizers are also planning a noontime convergence across from City Hall. Another march will begin there at 12:30. There are plans for an anti-capitalist march beginning at Telegraph and Broadway at 2 pm. A family bike and stroller brigade will meet at Oakland's main library at 14th and Madison at 3 pm. And organizers will rally again at 5 pm at the Occupy Oakland encampment for a march to West Oakland where they intend to shut down the loading and unloading of shipping containers at one of the nation's largest ports.
Oakland labor unions stopped short of saying they will join the call for a general strike tomorrow, but said many union members will nonetheless miss work in order to participate in a "day of action". Oakland's City Administrator said city workers can use vacation or other paid time off if they want to participate. The executive board of the 2700 member Oakland Educational Association has endorsed the "day of action" .
Meanwhile the Oakland police union had sharp works for Mayor Jean Quan, saying members are "confused" over her decision to first raid the Occupy Oakland encampment only to later welcome its return to Frank Ogawa Plaza. The open letter also questioned why the city plans to beef up its police presence at strike related events tomorrow while giving other city workers leeway to participate. John Hamilton spoke with Barry Donelan, a police sergeant and vice president of the Oakland Police Officer's Association.