EVEN if anti-war protesters in Oakland were pushing the limits Monday, it doesn't appear they deserved the wooden dowels, rubber pellets and tear gas the Oakland police fired at them.
Oakland officials must investigate what happened.
The confrontation between several dozen police and an estimated 500 demonstrators apparently was the nation's first incident involving non-lethal force at an anti-war protest since the Iraq war began. It occurred after protesters attempted to block entrances to two companies at the Port of Oakland.
One company, under contract to prepare an Iraqi port for humanitarian aid, was a dubious target for protesters.
And the protesters' tactic of closing down business for the day, was clearly illegal.
But the police response appeared to have been unwarranted and disproportionate. None of the injuries -- mainly ugly welts and bruises -- were serious. But the injured included members of the longshoremen's union who were waiting to go to work and protesters who said they were hit trying to flee.
Police Chief Richard Word said that the police, who were in riot gear, used non-lethal weapons after some protesters threw bottles and metal bolts. Protesters, who included an attorney who's a city school board member, and other witnesses denied protesters had done this. Word said they ignored three warnings to move.
The police should resort to anti-riot weapons only when bystanders' and their own safety is threatened -- and when the situation is veering out of control. That didn't appear to be the case.
Word said the outnumbered police feared that more protesters would be swelling the ranks later that day. Tear gas and rubber bullets should not be used as a pre-emptive strike.
The protest came as no surprise. The police had met with port officials for weeks in anticipation. They had a plan. Whether they executed it well is another matter:
• Did the police give adequate notice and time for the protesters to move on?
• Did they provide a clear path for protesters to leave?
• Were the officers adequately trained to use their weapons, and did they use them excessively?
Anti-war protests, in the nation's most activist area, are nothing new. On Saturday, 10,000 protesters marched peacefully through downtown Oakland, without incident.
Monday turned out differently. Why?
