Occupy Oakland general strike – Port of Oakland Shut down, Fifth Busiest Port in U.S,

• Port of Oakland shut down
• Police fire teargas at protesters
• Protesters set barricade on fire

Read our earlier blog

Occupy Oakland protesters effectively shut down the United States' fifth busiest port during a day of protest in the city. Photograph: Kent Porter/AP

Occupy Oakland protesters running from teargas. Photograph: James Fassinger/Stillscenes

8.23am GMT: A man is wailing and being helped by other protesters. They claim he has been shot by a rubber bullet.

8.20am GMT: Just as calm appeared to have returned, explosions were heard on the livestream (see 7.55am GMT). The commentator on the live stream said the explosions came from Oscar Grant plaza and police used teargas and flash bangs again. Calm appears to have returned - at least temporarily - again.

Here's an update from Adam Gabbatt in Oakland:

Adam Gabbatt byline Photograph: Frank Baron Protesters had occupied a building close to their base at Frank H Ogawa and barricaded off the main road to it when police arrived. Some 200 officers, who appeared to be from different agencies, ordered protesters to move back before firing teargas and what appeared to be flash bang grenades.
Protesters ran back and police claimed back the street entrance and the protesters' barricade of bins and pallets - which protesters had set on fire - before ordering protesters back a second time. A small group of protesters refused, and teargas was again fired and
more than ten explosives thrown by police. The teargas appeared to be a more concentrated dose, afflicting me for some 30 minutes.
One woman, Lauren Freitas, said she was hit in the legs by rubber bullets or other projectiles. A rapid-firing weapon could definitely be heard during one of the two police advances.
At the moment there is an impasse between police and protesters. Two groups of police prevent protesters moving north beyond 16th Street on Broadway and east along 15th.
Some protesters are sat down in front of police lines, clapping as a man plays guitar. The vast majority are back towards their base at the plaza.
There haven't been clashes for around 30 minutes now. Many protesters are regrouping, having treated teargas with a variety of vinegar and lemon solutions .

8.03am GMT: My colleague Adam Gabbatt (@AdamGabbatt) was in the midst of things when the police used teargas. Here are some of his tweets as officers tried to disperse protesters:

Teargas deployed. And loud explosion #OccupyOakland
That was horrible. Don't have a mask #OccupyOakland
Protesters' barricade on fire. Police 100m away warning to move back #OccupyOakland
That fire has really taken off. Police continue to ask protesters to move or face arrest. Protesters chant "peaceful protest" #OccupyOakland
Police secured the blazing barricade. Used teargas and exploding devices (not sure of proper name, like bangers) #OccupyOakland
Photo: Adam Gabbatt Second tear gas felt more concentrated than the first. Back on Broadway now. Some protesters have smashed a window #OccupyOakland

Adam took the photo above of part of a teargas cannister.

7.55am GMT: There is a livestream of the protests:

It seems a bit calmer, at least where the camera is at the moment.

7.47am: My colleague Adam Gabbatt has filmed dramatic footage of police using teargas and explosions on protesters.

One protester can be seen throwing an object.

7.41am GMT: Welcome to continuing coverage of the general strike in Oakland, where it is approaching midnight and police have clashed with protesters. You can read our earlier coverage here.

Here's a quick summary of developments so far:
• Police have used teargas and flash bangs to try to clear Occupy Oakland protesters. Protesters have been chanting "peaceful protest" in response but some have set up a burning barricade and a few have thrown objects at police
• Police estimated that a crowd of about 3,000 gathered at the Port of Oakland by early evening. Some had marched from the California city's downtown, while others had been bused to the port.
• Occupy demonstrators forced a halt to operations Oakland's port which is the fifth busiest port in the US, on Wednesday night.
• In a statement put out by Oakland Port confirming the closure, officials said maritime area operations would resume "when it is safe and secure to do so."
• Acting Oakland Police Chief Howard Jordan said a pedestrian hit by a car was taken to a local hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/blog/2011/nov/03/occupy-oakland-general-strike-live/print