❗Let's close the gap: We still need your help to raise $40,000 by April 1. Donate now

Why Occupy Oakland protesters chose the port

Marketplace Staff Nov 3, 2011
HTML EMBED:
COPY

Why Occupy Oakland protesters chose the port

Marketplace Staff Nov 3, 2011
HTML EMBED:
COPY

Jeremy Hobson: It’s been another night of tear gas and flash-bang grenades in Oakland, where protesters forced a shut down of the port and clashed with police in a public plaza.

One of the protesters who went to the port is Alfonso Jaramillo, who joins us now from Oakland. Good morning.

Alfonso Jaramillo: Good morning.

Hobson: So why did you and the other protesters decide to go down to the port of Oakland?

Jaramillo: I think people felt that it was important to make an economic impact and let the city of Oakland know — as well as the rest of the world — that it is one thing to come out and protest, but this time the stakes are much higher, and people are willing to do things like support a general strike.

Hobson: But a lot of people have looked at this — and even the port has come out and said, “Look, we’re the 99 percent, why are you picking on us?”

Jaramillo: Yes. So, most of us are in the 99 percent, right. But it is a question of — it’s not just an issue or two that we’re talking about here, we’re talking about widespread, systemic corruption that we need to address on a global scale.

So we need to take these kind of measures, and go further even — if possible — with strikes. And let people know that we’re serious about this, it’s not an issue-based kind of movement.

Hobson: Alfonso Jaramillo joining us from Oakland. Thank you so much.

Jaramillo: You’re welcome.

There’s a lot happening in the world.  Through it all, Marketplace is here for you. 

You rely on Marketplace to break down the world’s events and tell you how it affects you in a fact-based, approachable way. We rely on your financial support to keep making that possible. 

Your donation today powers the independent journalism that you rely on. For just $5/month, you can help sustain Marketplace so we can keep reporting on the things that matter to you.