Kerfuffles

Oakland Occupy Protests Target Small, Local Businesses

Rudy's occupies a previously vacant space in the ground floor of the Fox.
Rudy’s occupies a previously vacant space in the ground floor of the Fox. Photo: Oakland Scene

Much as they did, more destructively, Monday night in the Mission, Occupy-affiliated, anti-gentrification protesters made some noise during yesterday’s May Day protests outside some small Oakland restaurants perceived as part of unwanted gentrification. Protesters gathered Tuesday morning outside Rudy’s Can’t Fail Café at the Fox Theater, and as Oakland Local observed, “Marchers seemed to drift around aimlessly, full of anger toward the system, but unsure where to direct it at.”

Rudy’s began in Emeryville, it’s co-owned by one of the members of Green Day, and with two locations they’re not exactly a corporate entity, but perhaps because they were singled out for being the only newish restaurant open at that hour in the neighborhood. Protesters also singled out the new downtown location of Bittersweet Café, which is also locally owned. But apparently it’s too nice or something? At least one sign that’s been noted in the press from yesterday’s Oakland gatherings seems appropriate to quote here: “Keep Oakland Poor.”

The irony of Occupy Oakland’s un-diverse anti-gentrification march (Opinion) [Oakland Local]
Earlier: Farina, Bar Tartine, Four Barrel Vandalized in Pre-May Day March

Oakland Occupy Protests Target Small, Local Businesses