by Eric Arnold, Lauren Soldano, Steve Fisher and Susan Mernit

May 1, 9:00 PM--Starting at about 8:30 pm, OPD issued two dispersal orders to clear the area at 14^th and Broadway, 15^th and Broadway/Telegraph, and Frank Ogawa Plaza. The orders came shortly after OPD had attempted to arrest an individual who ran through the crowd. As a crowd of about 300 people moved forwar, some began throwing bottles and other objects, giving the police leave to declare unlawful assemply and clear the plaza

3:00 PM-- Police at 14th and Broadway are not letting either press or protesters into the area they have closed off around Broadway/Franklin and over as far as Clay. As a result of their crowd management training, police announcements included the statement, "You have the right to peaceful assembly. Any acts of violence or vandalism will result in arrest; please return to Frank Ogawa Plaza."   Reports are also coming in from OL reporters that police may be preparing to kettle part of the crowd around 14th and Broadway.

2:00 PM-- At a media briefing, Oakland police confirmed the use of tear gas and flash bang grenades on a crowd of protestors downtown. Some press are reporting that they were "chased away" by demonstrators. Demonstrators are starting to gather near the Fruitvale BART for a 3 PM march downtown; OL will be covering.

1:00 PM--Police have fired flash bang granades and fired some tear gas in a confrontation with protesters at Broadway and 14th street in Oakland. During the melee, police pulled some protesters out of the crowd and made arrests as angry protesters and police engaged in a standoff. Police detained three people and used a Taser on at least one protestor. Some protesters broke windows on an unmarked police van and a TV news van, and threw bottles at police.

However, unlike previous demonstrations, in this confrontation, police managed crowd agression by pulling their lines back, not forward. 

See photos of the confrontation and the arrest here, thanks to Eric Arnold.