Morning Roundup

Obamaville St. Louis was closed last night.  Bumfights in St. Louis: Oakland, Portland and Salt Lake City face evictions tonight.  From the sounds of things, Portland isn't planning on going quietly:

Since that announcement Portland Police have become aware of information that is concerning. We understand a call has gone out to Oakland, Seattle and San Francisco and perhaps other cities encouraging people to come to Portland and engage in resistance. People in the camp are expecting 100-300 re-enforcements from various locations. There may even be as many as 150 anarchists who will arrive soon. There is information that people may be in the in trees during a police action and that there are people who are attempting to obtain a large number of gas masks.

There is a hole being dug in one of the parks and wood is being used to reinforce the area around it. There are reports that nails have been hammered into wood for weapons and that generally there are people in the camps preparing for a confrontation with police.

Last night Portland Police officers provided security while Portland Parks and Recreation security manager posted "No Camping" signs in the park. 36 signs were posted in all, although some were taken down by the occupiers almost immediately.

People were seen carrying pallets into the camp shortly after 1:00 a.m. this morning. The destination of the pallets is a structure with graffiti in the northwest part of Chapman Park, also known as "The 420 Hotel". The people there are very suspicious of any passers by, we are not sure at this point what exactly they are doing. We have been told it looks like they were making shields.

  Obamaville Oakland has become little more than a gang hangout:

"They popped off five shots and shot the dude," the protestor told Will.  "He went down and I watched him take his last breath.  It's not a movement any more.  It's a place for someone to come and hide who has a parole hold.  There are parolees at large hiding in there.  I personally know of two guys they're looking for armed robbery hiding in there because the police won't go in there."

Still, Vichy Oakland mayor Quan may be forced to back down because her indecisiveness has exasperated the surrounding communities that supported the previous eviction order:

“There are some chiefs and some city councils that I think are upset with having to keep sending officers to Oakland,” said Sgt. J.D. Nelson of the Alameda County Sheriff’s Department. “And their point is: ‘Why are we sending people there when their own mayor can’t make a decision on what to do?’” The Sheriff’s Department told Oakland Police Chief Howard Jordan Wednesday they will charge $1,000 per deputy for a 12-hour shift. Alameda County Sheriff Greg Ahern said his deputies would only come in for free if the situation prompted an emergency. “After we assisted Oakland in removing the occupiers who were unlawfully camping in Frank Ogawa Plaza, the government officials allowed them back into the plaza and allowed them to resume camping,” said Ahern. “They're trying to allow people the right to free speech and it's a very difficult line that we're dealing with here. But once they allow it, then they have to understand . . . it’s no longer an emergency.”

  Marchers made it to Trenton last night, but apparently were pretty near exhaustion:

We were tired, marching thru the cold, and things were getting tense around mile 20-25. For the first time our spirits were kinda low.

 But things perked up once they reached the NJ Capital:

Crazy day, our spirits are thru the roof now. We decided to stay at @Occupy_Trenton till noon. We can finally get some rest

Group photo, taken from the webcam:

Looks like half the group has dropped out. Don't see Shoeless Joe in there.