Occupy protests in Oakland erupted into violence Saturday where nearly 400 protesters were arrested after clashed with police where tear gas and non-lethal weapons were used.

“A violent splinter group of the Occupy Movement is engaging in violent actions against Oakland.  The Bay Area Occupy Movement has got to stop using Oakland as their playground.” Mayor Jean Quan said during a Saturday night press conference.   

Around two hundred protesters gathered in Frank H. Ogawa plaza Saturday afternoon for the march. That number quickly grew to over a thousand people as protesters marched through the city in an attempt to occupy a vacant building.

The first confrontation between protesters and police happened at 2:23 pm when they faced off outside of the Laney College tennis courts. 

A couple protesters carried a metal barricade toward police, but the protesters backed away and the confrontation lasted about ten minutes.

Protesters then shook down chain-linked fences in front of the Henry J. Kaiser Convention Center.  Police declared the march an “unlawful assembly” and gave an order to disperse.  Smoke grenades were deployed when protesters remained at the site.

“Don’t let the police define our march!” A male protester shouted through a bullhorn as protesters moved away from the scene.

In front of the Oakland Museum of California, protesters and police confronted one another again.  After protesters refused to disperse, police deployed tear gas, flash bang grenades and shot protesters with less than lethal ammunition. Protesters cheered as a majority of the group remained present. 

Officers deployed a second round of dozens of tear gas canisters and flash bangs at protesters at a renewed attempt of dispersing the unruly protesters. Protesters threw the spent canisters back at police, along with bottles and other unidentified objects.

After about an hour hiatus, protesters regrouped at Frank H. Ogawa Plaza and marched again. The demonstrators ran to the Traveler’s Aide building, but could not enter through the locked gates. 

They moved on to Henry J. Kaiser Memorial Park outside of the SEIU United Healthcare Workers building where they were surrounded by police. The crowd broke through the fenced park to escape police after two loud flashes were sighted.

Protesters then entered the YMCA building on Broadway and were surrounded by police, leaving them no option but to be arrested.

Oakland Police Department Public Information Officer Jeff Thomason estimated that 125 to 150 people were being detained in the YMCA building.

“Failure to disperse is the main charge.”  Thomason said.  “It’s unfortunate right now when you’re using all those resources when you can’t afford it.”

“Democracy shouldn’t look like this.”  Dennis Hickey, an Oakland resident who watched the massive arrests take place.  “I’m not even part of the movement, I’m just a regular Jane and Joe American.”

During a press conference, Deputy Chief Jeff Israel of the Oakland Police Department said of the protesters “This was not a lawful assembly at the beginning…Their intent has been to illegally enter a building.”

“We try to talk to people, we really have.”  Mayor Jean Quan said of the City’s overall response to the Occupy movement.

As of Sunday morning, the Oakland Police Department estimated that there were over 400 arrests during the demonstrations.