Anti-Wall Street protesters in two West Coast cities were subdued with tear gas and pepper spray after they shut down a California port and disrupted rush-hour traffic in Seattle, authorities said.
Oakland police fired tear gas on “several hundred people” throwing rocks and shooting fireworks at officers after demonstrators were asked to disperse early Thursday, a California police official said.
The violence came after protesters in the city appeared to carry out a successful strike of downtown businesses Wednesday as merchants and retailers shuttered their doors in what was a largely peaceful protest.
The protesters also disrupted business at the Port of Oakland, authorities said.
“Maritime operations remain effectively shut down, and the Port has been taking steps to help workers in the harbor area get home safely,” the port said in a statement late Wednesday “Maritime operations will not resume until it is safe and secure to do so.”
Port officials hope to resume business Thursday.
“Our hope is that the work day can resume … and that port workers will be allowed to get to their jobs without incident,” port officials said. “Continued missed shifts represent economic hardship for maritime workers, truckers, and their families, as well as lost jobs and lost tax revenue for our region.”
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article courtesy of CNN.com
