Occupy Oakland Staying Defiant Against Police

Oakland, California – A day after a man was shot and killed near the protest site, Oakland's Police Officers' Association demanded the end of Occupy Oakland. The protesters, however, are refusing to follow the orders.

Saying through an open letter "You have sent the world a strong message; now it is time to go home. Your leaving today, peacefully, of your own free will, on the 30th day, will send a message to Oakland that you care about our citizens and respect our city. With last night's homicide, in broad daylight, in the middle of rush hour, Frank Ogawa Plaza is no longer safe. "Please leave peacefully, with your heads held high, so we can get police officers back to work fighting crime in Oakland neighborhoods."

KGO-TV said the man, in his 20s, who protesters identify as "Alex," was killed during an argument between two groups. Protesters say Alex was not staying at the Occupy encampment but he frequently stopped by. 

Protesters answered the letter by saying the shooting is a routine occurrence in the city, followed by accusations officials left the lights around the plaza off after dark for the last two nights.

One protester, Cat Brooks, said “People were being murdered long before the Occupy Oakland encampment happened. If police say that's why they can't do their job, that's laughable."

Lately businesses, saying customers are being driven away, have increased the pressure they're putting on Oakland's city council. One councilman, said to a reporter "I have been very, very vocal about the fact that we cannot allow this to continue, because lives and property losses are what's at stake. We have to end this occupation."

It seems short of the police and businesses however, no other group is coming to the police's aid.  When the occupation was broken up on October 25, it required 14 other law enforcement agencies.  Citing the fact city officials let the protesters back into the plaza however, they are saying the situation is no longer their problem.  Religious leaders, it seems, are supportive of the local Occupy movement, rallying with them the day after the fatal event.