Bay Area protest updates: Protesters expected to shut down Port of Oakland

Alex Baker
·3 min read

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) — With May Day, a traditional day of observing workers’ rights, upon us and pro-Palestine protests erupting into chaos across college campuses on both coasts, the Bay Area is braced for a day of protests across the region. Protests and marches are set to take place around the Bay Area Wednesday.

Some of the planned events, according to the Arab Resource and Organizing Center, include:

  • San Francisco: May Day Rally and March for Palestine, 10 a.m. beginning at 24th St. BART

  • Oakland: Rise for Palestine May Day Shutdown of the Port of Oakland, 4 p.m. West Oakland BART

  • Oakland: International Day of Solidarity with Palestinian People, 2 p.m. Federal Building, 1301 Clay St.

  • Los Altos Hills: May Day Walkout for Palestine, 11 a.m. 12345 El Monte Road, Los Altos Hills

KRON4 will be bringing you continuing coverage on protests around the Bay Area. Follow our live blog for the latest updates.

Bay Area protests latest updates:

5 p.m. — Oakland demonstrators form protest on Frank H Ogawa Plaza

KRON4’s Dan Thorn reports.

4:03 p.m. — Stanford demonstrators continue peaceful protest with tent encampment

KRON4’s Lezla Gooden reports.

3:22 p.m. — Vallejo City Hall shut down due to protests

Vallejo City Hall is closed for business on Wednesday after protesters occupied part of the building. According to the City of Vallejo, a protest moved from outside into the building’s second-floor business area.

“The extremely loud environment has hindered staff and visitors’ ability to conduct regular business,” read a statement. “Additionally, due to the number of protesters inside the building, the person capacity of City Hall’s public space has been reached.”

City Hall is set to remain closed for the remainder of business Wednesday, the city announced.

The protesters are staging a sit-in related to the city council’s rejection of plans for a proposed charter school expansion.

3:19 p.m. — Work canceled for Port of Oakland employees Wednesday

Employers at the Port of Oakland have canceled work for employees on Wednesday in anticipation of pro-Palestinian protests, according to organizers of the protests. Protesters earlier announced plans to assemble at West Oakland BART station before marching to the port in an attempt to shut it down.

2:30 — UC Berkeley protesters continue demonstrations with tent encampment:

KRON4’s Rob Nesbitt reports.

2:10 — Santa Clara University students join calls for cease-fire

Students and faculty at Santa Clara University held a protest and teach-in on campus Wednesday. Organizers told KRON4 that the aim of the event was to show solidarity with other pro-Palestine demonstrators and to have a peaceful protest. KRON4’s Tiffany Justice reports.

12:36 p.m. — Oakland high school students stage walkout calling for cease-fire

KRON4’s Charles Clifford reports

12:19 p.m. — VIDEO: Pro-Palestine marchers block traffic in the Mission District

Protesters marching from the 24th Street BART Station Wednesday morning appeared to block traffic.

11:35 a.m. — SF Muni rerouting around Mission protest

The San Francisco Municipal Transit Agency is rerouting several buses due to May Day and pro-Palestine protests in the Mission District Wednesday. Reroutes are in effect for the following lines:

  • 14

  • 14R

  • 27

  • 48

  • 49

  • 67

9:15 a.m. — Increased CHP presence seen on Bay Area bridges

There was visibly increased presence of California Highway Patrol officers on the Bay Bridge and the Golden Gate Bridge Wednesday morning. This apparent increased vigilance from the CHP comes following last month’s shutdown of the Golden Gate Bridge by protesters and a similar action last November that saw protesters shut down the Bay Bridge for hours.

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