#OccupyOakland Devolves Into #RiotOakland

It's funny that one of the cities considered most "tolerant" of the wacky left is having the most violence between protesters and cops:

Dozens of police in riot gear and hundreds of protesters in support of the Occupy Wall Street movement engaged in a game of cat-and-mouse in downtown Oakland on Tuesday, with authorities using tear gas to respond to demonstrators’ repeated agitations.

The latest such skirmish came around 9:30 PDT as some protesters began throwing rocks among a crowd that had reconvened in front of City Hall, where a haze of chemical smoke still hung in the air following a similar clash about an hour earlier only blocks away.

Authorities have denied reports that they used flash bang canisters to help break up the crowds, saying the loud noises came from large firecrackers thrown at police by protesters.

City Hall has been the site of conflict throughout the day. Authorities used a pre-dawn raid to dismantle an Occupy Wall Street encampment that had taken over a plaza outside the government headquarters for more than two weeks.

Police removed about 170 demonstrators who had been staying in the area overnight after repeatedly being warned that such a camp was illegal and they faced arrest by remaining. City officials said 97 people were arrested in the morning raid.

Every time some protester is interviewed their ignorance of the Constitution becomes more obvious. Last night I saw some hippie chick who insisted the First Amendment gives her the right to protest "anywhere, any time". Uh, no it doesn't. Why don't you go to the White House and demand to protest in the Oval Office and see how far your First Amendment will take you?

The right to protest and assemble is still subject to other local laws, such as ordinances against camping on city property. It's becoming a tough lesson for the losers.