Page One

Chronology of a Protest

By Steven Finacom
Thursday November 10, 2011 - 12:16:00 AM
In an especially Berkeley scene, UC Berkeley Police Prius patrol cars were lined up in the morning along Bancroft Way next to police vans and news vans.
Steven Finacom
In an especially Berkeley scene, UC Berkeley Police Prius patrol cars were lined up in the morning along Bancroft Way next to police vans and news vans.
The mid-day rally on Sproul Plaza attracted thousands, many of them with protest signs.  There were short speeches.
Steven Finacom
The mid-day rally on Sproul Plaza attracted thousands, many of them with protest signs. There were short speeches.
“Make Banks Pay” was a common sign at the rally, as speakers focused on the role of big financial institutions in the economic collapse.
Steven Finacom
“Make Banks Pay” was a common sign at the rally, as speakers focused on the role of big financial institutions in the economic collapse.
As protesters rallied, police temporarily stopped traffic on Bancroft to move an Alameda County Sheriff’s bus into position on Barrow Lane behind Sproul Hall.  These buses are typically brought to large protests where numerous arrests are possible.
Steven Finacom
As protesters rallied, police temporarily stopped traffic on Bancroft to move an Alameda County Sheriff’s bus into position on Barrow Lane behind Sproul Hall. These buses are typically brought to large protests where numerous arrests are possible.
Berkeley Police bicycle patrol waited for the march down Telegraph Avenue and attracted the attention of perennial Berkeley protestor, Zachery Running Wolf.
Steven Finacom
Berkeley Police bicycle patrol waited for the march down Telegraph Avenue and attracted the attention of perennial Berkeley protestor, Zachery Running Wolf.
A solitary homeless woman panhandled in front of the Telegraph Avenue branch of the Bank of America in the quiet minutes before the march began.
Steven Finacom
A solitary homeless woman panhandled in front of the Telegraph Avenue branch of the Bank of America in the quiet minutes before the march began.
The march out of Sproul Plaza briefly paused at the Bancroft Way edge, then surged down Telegraph with a fringe of photographers keeping pace in front.
Steven Finacom
The march out of Sproul Plaza briefly paused at the Bancroft Way edge, then surged down Telegraph with a fringe of photographers keeping pace in front.
A protestor wrapped “Caution” tape around the B of A façade.
Steven Finacom
A protestor wrapped “Caution” tape around the B of A façade.
The march arrived at Telegraph and Durant.  Marchers chanted in front of both bank entrances, while Berkeley Police stopped traffic.   The marchers then headed up Durant.
Steven Finacom
The march arrived at Telegraph and Durant. Marchers chanted in front of both bank entrances, while Berkeley Police stopped traffic. The marchers then headed up Durant.
Minutes after the protest passed, customers were back at the B of A ATM machines, which had been festooned with signs.
Steven Finacom
Minutes after the protest passed, customers were back at the B of A ATM machines, which had been festooned with signs.
After the march, many of the Occupy Cal protesters returned to Sproul Plaza where they gathered in small discussion groups, then convened a “General Assembly.”
Contributed Photo
After the march, many of the Occupy Cal protesters returned to Sproul Plaza where they gathered in small discussion groups, then convened a “General Assembly.”
The “General Assembly” voted to set up a tent encampment on the lawn in front of Sproul Hall.
Contributed Photo
The “General Assembly” voted to set up a tent encampment on the lawn in front of Sproul Hall.
Later in the afternoon UC Police and mutual aid reinforcements in riot gear moved out in force from Sproul Hall and formed a picket line along the northwest front, with protestors closely massed in front.
Steven Finacom
Later in the afternoon UC Police and mutual aid reinforcements in riot gear moved out in force from Sproul Hall and formed a picket line along the northwest front, with protestors closely massed in front.
Some police were armed with projectile weapons.
Steven Finacom
Some police were armed with projectile weapons.
Protestors formed a wall in front of the tents in an angle of the lawn, north of the Mario Savio Steps.
Steven Finacom
Protestors formed a wall in front of the tents in an angle of the lawn, north of the Mario Savio Steps.
The police extended their line around the corner and took apart some of the tents.  It was at this point that a number of arrests occurred.  There was considerable shouting and chanting, some jostling, and protestors pulled at least one of the tents over their heads and above the crowd to keep it away from the police.
Steven Finacom
The police extended their line around the corner and took apart some of the tents. It was at this point that a number of arrests occurred. There was considerable shouting and chanting, some jostling, and protestors pulled at least one of the tents over their heads and above the crowd to keep it away from the police.
Police carried fragments of the dismantled tents around to the basement of Sproul Hall while the crowd heckled and chanted.
Steven Finacom
Police carried fragments of the dismantled tents around to the basement of Sproul Hall while the crowd heckled and chanted.
One protestor who had previously been sitting on a windowsill of Sproul Hall was arrested.
Steven Finacom
One protestor who had previously been sitting on a windowsill of Sproul Hall was arrested.
After 5:00 pm, as dusk fell, two tents were reestablished on the lawn, as hundreds of protestors and spectators talked in small groups.  Only a few police were visible at that point.
Steven Finacom
After 5:00 pm, as dusk fell, two tents were reestablished on the lawn, as hundreds of protestors and spectators talked in small groups. Only a few police were visible at that point.
Protestors around the tents were interviewed by a press of media, and food supplies were stacked up.  One protestor appealed to the crowd to keep the area clean and neat.
Steven Finacom
Protestors around the tents were interviewed by a press of media, and food supplies were stacked up. One protestor appealed to the crowd to keep the area clean and neat.

A photo chronology of the November 9, 2011 “Occupy Cal” Day of Protest