Oakland mayor announces that Urban Shield will not return to city
When the Oakland Police Department showed up at a protest against Urban Shield, the person on the mic said, “Hands up don’t shoot.” (Twitter/Shane Bauer)
On Friday, around 300 protesters blocked Broadway between 9th and 11th streets in downtown Oakland, protesting the second day of the eighth annual Urban Shield convention.
The event could not have occurred at a more timely moment. Only a few weeks after images of SWAT teams in riot gear pointing military-grade assault rifles towards peaceful protesters and arresting dozens in the streets brought the hyper-militarization of the police to national attention, the Urban Shield convention is taking place in downtown Oakland, bringing together law enforcement forces from around the world for a two-day trade show followed by a series of trainings taking place throughout the Bay Area.
Funded by the Urban Areas Security Initiative, a Department of Homeland Security grant designed to help communities prepare for natural disasters or terrorism attacks, Urban Shield prides itself in bringing together top-tier police forces — including those from Israel, Bahrain, Qatar, Brazil, and this year, South Korea and Singapore — and training them using the latest in policing and emergency-response technology. However, though the event bills itself as a “disaster-preparedness training exercise” and is largely credited for an efficient response to the Boston marathon bombings in 2013, many local activists fear that both the trainings and the trade show are fostering excessive police militarization, under the guise of emergency-preparedness.
Mother Jones reporter Shane Bauer attended yesterday’s trade show; many of his tweets confirm these suspicions.
Homeland Security sells at 3D printed drone for $1,100. Enter coordinates and it drops stuff “like in Hunger games.” pic.twitter.com/17g2n0JwWH
— Shane Bauer (@shane_bauer) September 4, 2014
Homeland Security made a DNA machine to see if ppl have real US relatives when they apply for visas. 90 min results. pic.twitter.com/ObHMK9k4GV — Shane Bauer (@shane_bauer) September 4, 2014
Late Friday, Oakland Mayor Jean Quan announced in a press conference that the convention will not be returning to Oakland next year.
Despite the victory, many activists recognize that resisting events like Urban Shield, and other manners of police militarization will be a long battle. Since beginning in Oakland, Urban Shield has expanded to Boston and parts of Texas is only growing. While a long-overdue federal review of the 1033 Program — which provides military-
The activists in the Stop Urban Shield Coalition are prepared for the fight.
“We aim to dismantle all police militarization programs: Urban Shield, UASI, 1033, 1122 and Fusion Centers,” noted Tara Tabassi, national organizer for the War Resisters League, one of many groups in the coalition opposing Urban Shield.
“Achieving that though, we would still be faced with the mentality of police militarization, domestically and globally,” Tabassi said. “Occupation is not just about weapons, whether in Ferguson or Palestine. It exists because the present social order requires it, and that’s why we are seeing a movement growing — from Boston to the Bay — that gets to the roots of the problem by demanding community self-determination.”
Source: http://wagingnonviolence.org/2014/09/oakland-mayor-announces-urban-shield-will-returning-oakland/
Anyone can join.
Anyone can contribute.
Anyone can become informed about their world.
"United We Stand" Click Here To Create Your Personal Citizen Journalist Account Today, Be Sure To Invite Your Friends.
Please Help Support BeforeitsNews by trying our Natural Health Products below!
Order by Phone at 888-809-8385 or online at https://mitocopper.com M - F 9am to 5pm EST
Order by Phone at 866-388-7003 or online at https://www.herbanomic.com M - F 9am to 5pm EST
Order by Phone at 866-388-7003 or online at https://www.herbanomics.com M - F 9am to 5pm EST
Humic & Fulvic Trace Minerals Complex - Nature's most important supplement! Vivid Dreams again!
HNEX HydroNano EXtracellular Water - Improve immune system health and reduce inflammation.
Ultimate Clinical Potency Curcumin - Natural pain relief, reduce inflammation and so much more.
MitoCopper - Bioavailable Copper destroys pathogens and gives you more energy. (See Blood Video)
Oxy Powder - Natural Colon Cleanser! Cleans out toxic buildup with oxygen!
Nascent Iodine - Promotes detoxification, mental focus and thyroid health.
Smart Meter Cover - Reduces Smart Meter radiation by 96%! (See Video).