Last Friday, Oakland Mayor Jean Quan made the rarely seen move of apologizing for the events that transpired at last Tuesday’s Occupy Oakland protest turned violent.
"I am deeply saddened about the outcome on Tuesday," Quan said in a video statement. "It was not what anyone hoped for. Ultimately, it was my responsibility, and I apologize for what happened.”
The outcome Quan is referring to is the fractured skulls sustained by two-time Iraq War veteran Scott Olsen, 24, after he was struck with a police projectile, either tear gas or a smoke canister.
Even more disturbing is the controversial video showing police throwing a flash grenade at Olsen’s motionless body, after a group of Occupy Oakland protesters came to his aid, with his upper body covered in blood gushing from his head wound.
“I held his head in my hands," said Clare Chadwick, one of the aiding rescuers. "He was bleeding out of the mouth and unconscious, his eyes were rolling in the back of his head."
Olsen was sent to Highland General Hospital in critical condition. He was dropped off by a private vehicle, and remained unconscious for 12 hours. Fortunately, it appears Olsen will pull through.
Despite the initial brain swelling caused by the injury, and his current difficulties with verbal communication, doctors expect him to make a full recovery, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.
Oslen’s attack has become a rallying point for Occupy protestors across the nation, as well as fellow U.S. Marines. Former members of the U.S. armed forces are outraged at the actions of Oakland police.
“They were out for blood,” Veterans for Peace Executive Director Mike Ferner said in an interview with The Examiner.
Last Thursday, Occupy Wall Street declared, “We are all Scott Olsen.”
Oslen was only one of many injured and brutalized by overzealous police that night. Oakland police have heavily denied their use of rubber bullets and flash bangs on protestors that night, despite the overwhelming amount of evidence showing the contrary.
Even if the protestors had begun physically reacting towards the oppressive police presence, the utilization of these dangerous methods was a blatant overreaction.
Yet despite all this turmoil, it is certainly refreshing to see Quan apologizing and taking personal responsibility for the tragedy, even if she did not do so initially.
After commending police forces for “peacefully” closing the protest on Tuesday, Quan quickly changed gears and began dancing around the issue, but only after she was under heavy fire from critics.
She claimed that she did not know the exact day the raid would take place, a fairly weak excuse.
However, by Friday she had finally taken responsibility for her failure as a public leader, after being booed away from Scott Olsen’s memorial.
She also deserves credit for reopening the plaza before City Hall to protestors.
Still the damage has been done, and it’s pretty clear Quan isn’t acting without of guiding hand of political motivation.
She has had a far-reaching career as a progressive activist, but only time will tell if Quan truly supports the 99 percent.
Reach the columnist at dsydiong@asu.edu
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