Grassroots Resistance as 'Police Militarization' Expo Descends on Oakland

Click here to access article by Sarah Lazare from Common Dreams.

As the summer closes on a note of outrage, forces driving police militarization — including defense contractors, law enforcement agencies, and SWAT teams from around the world — are converging in Oakland, California on September 4th through 8th for the 9th annual "Urban Shield" exercise and weapons technology expo that is bankrolled by arms manufacturers and the Department of Homeland Security.

They are being met with protests from grassroots organizations and local residents who say Urban Shield is not welcome in their city — or anywhere.