occupy county jail
I was arrested while reporting on Occupy Oakland on Thursday at about 1 am, wearing my press pass. My arresting officer acknowledged that I was press, and his officer friend even recognized me and knew my work (if you’re reading this, sir I would sure like to interview you!). I had a meeting set with the OPD press information officer for 8 hours later to obtain my official OPD press credentials. When I told this to the cops, they replied, “Do you want us to call her and tell her you’ll be late?”
I was detained for 15 hours and ultimately charged with the same misdemeanor as other demonstrators and NLG legal observers: PC 409, failure to leave the scene of a riot. Our arraignment dates are a month from now, and we were explicitly warned against returning to the plaza in the meantime. As I told ABC7, I feel like the OPD does, I think: confused.
You know it’s bad when Occupy Veterans is sending you personal supportive messages. This is a crappy video that I took while trying to run to safety — instead I ran into the kettle.
If you are interested in the whole saga, swim up my Twitter stream. The Oakland Police Department arrested 103 people that night, some of whom were not involved in Occupy at all. 95 received the PC 409 misdemeanor citation, but interim OPD Chief Howard Jordan told the New York Times that the group of arrestees were “generally anarchists and provocateurs.”
I am not the first journalist arrested while covering Occupy, and I doubt I’ll be the last — but I’m not clear on if other journalists are being charged with crimes, or arrested and released. Any information appreciated.
I’ll have a full piece about this clusterfuck at Alternet on Monday. I’m also still fundraising at Spot.Us for my illustrated history of Occupy Oakland (buy original art!). I may have an awesome new publisher for that — more details next week.
Jim Bowling wrote:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/69131033@N05/6309117870/
Posted on 05-Nov-11 at 9:13 am | Permalink
SUE-C wrote:
Have loved following your work the past weeks - fellow namesake is interesting coincidence. I have not been out on the street much since I have a young son in my care full-time so I rely on people like you and support you fully! Please continue to question and act for all of us who cannot. I’m sure you will…
Posted on 05-Nov-11 at 11:40 am | Permalink
Nile wrote:
I wouldn’t worry too much about the New York Times: it has declined in recent years, and now is little better than a propaganda organ for the oligarchy, with a decorative dressing of celebrity gossip.
The police chief - and, indeed, anyone who speaks to their reporters - would do well to tell these stenographers to power exactly what they want to hear: they’re going to write the same story anyway, no matter what they’re told, and you *really* don’t want to be written into the wrong side of the story and get driven out of office.
As a public official, the measure of his character is the degree of reluctance or relish he displays (or coceals) in telling the necessary lies; and maybe you can ask him - off the record and *never* to be alluded to - what kind of man will replace him if he doesn’t perform. Wicked and cowardly as I believe him to be, there are far worse individuals behind him, and his flawed leadership is all that stands between the protesters and extrajudicial execution. Or murder, as we call it in countries with a free press.
Meanwhile, stay safe. Remember: if you end up in hospital in a coma, anybody who conducts a vigil on the steps with such instruments of terror and sedition as a candle and a prayerbook could die, or be beaten up by thugs with riot batons *who will be praised as defenders of America’s freedom* in blogs and letters to the press and in the speaker meetings of our elected representatives.
Posted on 05-Nov-11 at 3:49 pm | Permalink
Psilokan.com » #OccupyOakland: video shows journalists, legal observers kettling themselves to seek safety, then they’re arrested wrote:
[...] who has been covering Occupy Oakland in a manner I can only describe as fierce and tenacious, shot this video just before she was arrested, along with the other journalists and legal observers you see seeking safety. Among the protesters [...]
Posted on 05-Nov-11 at 4:40 pm | Permalink
John B. wrote:
Dear Susan,
The Oakland police appear way out of control in a variety of ways.
I will view my own press pass with a little less credibility. Its a reminder that government really does not want transparency .
Posted on 06-Nov-11 at 1:09 pm | Permalink
Man shot with less-lethal round while filming police during 11/2 Occupy Oakland protest | The Informant wrote:
[...] activity during protests, including reporters. During the November 2nd disturbances, reporter Susie Cagle was arrested, jailed and charged with failure to disperse despite having self-made press [...]
Posted on 07-Nov-11 at 10:45 am | Permalink
maya wrote:
hey susie,
i read your story on alternet.
i’m curious about how one gets a press pass to occupy oakland - or any self-governed event/situation. if i’m understanding you correctly, is it true that you receieved a press pass from the OPD? and what authority does the OPD have to monitor who reports on the occupation?
thanks,
maya
Posted on 07-Nov-11 at 1:03 pm | Permalink
Susie wrote:
@Maya, I actually did not have an official OPD press pass, which was the problem for them — they won’t recognize the professionalism of reporters without their credentials. To get one, you have to be cleared by OPD, and it takes a while. It’s not clear yet whether they will clear me for one now since the outlets I work for are mainly online.
Posted on 07-Nov-11 at 1:05 pm | Permalink
The Power of Comics Journalism | CO2 COMICS BLOG wrote:
[...] Susie Cagle is at it again! She continues to make news while continuing her exploits as a comics journalist covering the Occupy Oakland Movement. Last week Cagle was arrested and detained for fourteen hours after having been teargassed the week before by Oakland Police. [...]
Posted on 07-Nov-11 at 6:58 pm | Permalink
maya wrote:
susie,
i’m sorry to hear that. it seems beyond bizarre that the OPD would have the authority to distribute press passes. i’d like one, too, but i highly doubt i’d be able to get one just for my own blog.
Posted on 07-Nov-11 at 9:42 pm | Permalink
BLK PXLS wrote:
I hope this make you feel better…..
http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/video?id=8422828
At least one cop will go down for his actions
Posted on 08-Nov-11 at 4:22 pm | Permalink