Occupy Oakland Turns Violent Despite Day Of Peaceful Protests (PHOTOS)

Thursday, November 3rd, 2011

Despite a day of peaceful protests, which led to the closure of the Port of Oakland, some participants of Occupy Oakland turned violent Wednesday night. The clashes between protesters and police came after demonstrators gathering at City Hall plaza gained entry into a nearby empty building. A small group of protesters set trash on fire to make a barricade to discourage police. Early in the morning police used tear-gas and flashbang grenades to clear the crowd from downtown streets. As many as 40 protesters were arrested.

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A demonstrator waves a flag as rubbish burns at the Occupy Oakland demonstration in Oakland, California. Nov. 3, 2011. Police in riot gear clashed with protesters in Oakland in the early morning hours on Thursday, firing tear gas to disperse demonstrators lingering in the streets after a day of mostly peaceful rallies.

(Stephen Lam - AFP/Getty Images)

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Demonstrators with the Occupy movement gather in Oakland, California. Nov. 2, 2011.

(Eric Thayer - AFP/Getty Images)

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Demonstrators try to extinguish a rubbish fire at the Occupy Oakland demonstration Oakland, California. Nov. 3, 2011.

(Stephen Lam - AFP/Getty Images)

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Demonstrators with the Occupy movement gather in Oakland, California. Nov. 2, 2011.

(Eric Thayer - AFP/Getty Images)

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The Occupy Oakland protesters place a banner to an entrance of a Comerica Bank branch in Oakland, California to shut down the bank as they call for a citywide general strike city. Nov. 2, 2011.

(Kimihiro Hoshino - AFP/Getty Images)

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Demonstrators with the Occupy movement stand on a utility box at the Port of Oakland in Oakland, California. Nov. 2, 2011. Tens of thousands of protestors marched to the Port of Oakland for a general strike organized by Occupy Oakland. Port operations shut down for the evening.

(Eric Thayer - AFP/Getty Images)

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Residents of Oakland look towards the street as the Occupy Oakland protesters march in Oakland, California. Nov. 2, 2011.

(Kimihiro Hoshino - AFP/Getty Images)

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A demonstrator receives first aid from another demonstrator, after getting gassed, as tear gas spreads behind him at the Occupy Oakland demonstration in Oakland, California. Nov. 3, 2011.

(Stephen Lam - AFP/Getty Images)

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A woman pauses in front of a memorial for Scott Olsen, an Iraq veteran who was severely injured during a standoff between Occupy Oakland and Oakland police, near the Occupy Oakland encampment. Oct. 27, 2011.

(Justin Sullivan - AFP/Getty Images)

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Demonstrators with the Occupy movement march on the Port of Oakland in Oakland, California. Nov. 2, 2011.

(Eric Thayer - AFP/Getty Images)

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A protestor holds a flag while blocking the entrance to a port at the Port of Oakland during Occupy Oakland's general strike. Nov. 2, 2011 in Oakland, California.

(Justin Sullivan - AFP/Getty Images)

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Protestors stand on a truck at the Port of Oakland during Occupy Oakland's general strike in Oakland, California. Nov. 2, 2011.

(Justin Sullivan - AFP/Getty Images)

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A police officer attempts to control the scene after being surrounded while making an arrest at an "Occupy Wall Street" demonstration in response to an early morning police raid which displaced Occupy Oakland's tent city in Oakland, California October 25, 2011.

(Stephen Lam - Reuters)

A masked Occupy Wall St. demonstrator walks away as authorities deploy tear gas during an demonstration in response to an early morning police raid which displaced Occupy Oakland's tent city in Oakland, California October 25, 2011.

(Stephen Lam - Reuters)

An "Occupy Wall Street" demonstrator gestures after a scuffle between police officers and protestors during a protest in response to an early morning police raid which displaced Occupy Oakland's tent city in Oakland, California October 25, 2011.

(Stephen Lam - Reuters)

An Occupy Wall St. demonstrator gestures as authorities deploy tear gas during a demonstration in response to an early morning police raid which displaced Occupy Oakland's tent city in Oakland, California October 25, 2011. Police and protesters scuffled in the streets of Oakland on Tuesday as more than 1,000 people marched on city hall to voice anger over scores of arrests at an "Occupy Wall Street" camp.

(Stephen Lam - Reuters)

Police officers with less-lethal munitions (L) reconnect with a group of their stranded colleagues (R) during an "Occupy Wall Street" demonstration, in response to an early morning police raid which displaced Occupy Oakland's tent city, in Oakland, California October 25, 2011.

(Stephen Lam - Reuters)

The remains of a chemical canister are seen after authorities reconnected with a group of stranded police officers during a demonstration by "Occupy Wall Street" protesters in response to an early morning police raid which displaced Occupy Oakland's tent city in Oakland, California October 25, 2011.

(Stephen Lam - Reuters)

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