4:17 PM: An Iraq War veteran was critically injured during “Occupy Oakland” protests Tuesday night when he was hit in the head with a police projectile, according to the group Iraq Veterans Against the War.
Scott Olsen, 24, of Daly City, has been active in the “Occupy SF” and “Occupy Oakland” protests over the past several weeks, and attended large protests Tuesday night in response to the police removal of the protesters’ encampment at Frank Ogawa Plaza.
Olsen served two tours of duty in Iraq, and has since been involved in Iraq Veterans Against the War and Veterans for Peace, said Dottie Guy, Bay Area chapter president for Iraq Veterans Against the War.
“Every time I saw him at the Occupy SF movement he’s always been extremely pleasant,” said Guy, who said she first met Olsen several weeks ago through her organization.
He was discharged from the U.S. Marine Corps in 2010 and works in Daly City as a systems administrator, according to a news release issued by Iraq Veterans Against the War.
The release stated that Olsen is currently sedated at Highland Hospital in Oakland with a skull fracture awaiting examination by a neurosurgeon.
Abele Carpenter, 29, a friend of Olsen’s who met him through his anti-war activism, said she visited Olsen in the hospital early this morning and has been in touch with his family.
Carpenter said the hospital has stopped allowing her to visit Olsen, who was stable but still in serious condition when she saw him last, and is waiting for his family to arrive from Wisconsin.
Carpenter said she first met Olsen over the summer through her work with the Civilian-Soldier Alliance after he moved to the Bay Area in July.
She said Olsen is “really passionate about his work speaking out against unjust wars, and for rights for veterans and service members.”
Carpenter said that a few weeks ago, she and Olsen did outreach together for active duty sailors during Fleet Week, and that Olsen was involved in trying to stop the redeployment of traumatized service members.
“He has a real breadth to his politics and social justice commitment,” Carpenter said. She said Olsen had been camping at Occupy SF consistently for at least a week.
Protesters started gathering this afternoon at 14th Street and Broadway, just outside of Frank Ogawa Plaza, which remains barricaded today.
Friends and supporters of Olsen have gathered for a vigil there, including veterans and fellow protesters.
Joshua Shepherd, a six-year Navy veteran and an activist with Veterans for Peace, attended the vigil, and said he also visited Olsen in the hospital this morning.
“It’s unconscionable that you go overseas to protect our country, but you get injured by police officers who are supposed to be protecting us,” Shepherd said.
Jason Matherne, an activist and friend of Olsen’s, called for protesters to remain non-violent in the face of the escalating protests in Oakland.
“If you agree with Scott about ending the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and support him, do it peacefully and with civil disobedience,” Matherne said.
Another friend at the vigil said a fund is being set up to assist with Olsen’s medical expenses and his family’s travel expenses from Wisconsin at www.ivaw.org.
Olsen was injured overnight as law enforcement officers used tear gas, rubber bullets and smoke grenades attempting to break up an assembly outside Oakland’s Frank Ogawa Plaza at 14th Street and Broadway.
The protests began with a rally outside the Oakland Public Library at 14th and Madison streets at 4 p.m. Tuesday. Protesters rallied there after police removed their encampment in Frank Ogawa Plaza in an early-morning raid Tuesday.
The group had been occupying the plaza to protest the gap between rich and poor, corporate greed, deadlocked politics, and a number of other issues.
The protesters have vowed to continue the protests tonight, and every subsequent night until they retake the plaza.
ScottMorris/JeffShuttleworth, Bay City News
2:38 PM: An Iraq War veteran was critically injured during “Occupy Oakland” protests Tuesday night when he was hit in the head with a police projectile, according to the group Iraq Veterans Against the War.
Scott Olsen, 24, of Daly City, has been active in the “Occupy SF” and “Occupy Oakland” protests over the past several weeks, and attended large protests Tuesday night in response to the police removal of the protesters’ encampment at Frank Ogawa Plaza.
Olsen served two tours of duty in Iraq, and has since been involved in Iraq Veterans Against the War and Veterans for Peace, said Dottie Guy, Bay Area chapter president for Iraq Veterans Against the War.
“Every time I saw him at the Occupy SF movement he’s always been extremely pleasant,” said Guy, who said she first met Olsen several weeks ago through her organization.
He was discharged from the U.S. Marine Corps in 2010 and works in Daly City as a systems administrator, according to a news release issued by Iraq Veterans Against the War.
The release stated that Olsen is currently sedated at Highland Hospital in Oakland with a skull fracture awaiting examination by a neurosurgeon.
He was injured overnight as law enforcement personnel used tear gas, rubber bullets and smoke grenades attempting to break up an assembly outside Oakland’s Frank Ogawa Plaza at 14th Street and Broadway.
The protests began with a rally outside the Oakland Public Library at 14th and Madison streets at 4 p.m. Tuesday. Protesters rallied there after police removed their encampment in Frank Ogawa Plaza in an early-morning raid Tuesday.
The group had been occupying the plaza to protest the gap between rich and poor, corporate greed, deadlocked politics, and a number of other issues.
Protesters have vowed to return to Frank Ogawa Plaza tonight to continue the protest, and have said they intend to protest there every day until they retake the plaza.
Video: Reporter Susie Cagle getting gassed Tuesday night, you can contribute to her coverage of Occupy Oakland here.
Scott Morris, Bay City News
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