Why Occupy Oakland protesters chose the port
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.
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