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Sunday, May 19, 2013 | 1:45 p.m.

Posted: 12:38 a.m. Saturday, May 26, 2012

Occupy protesters rally to support man arrested in confrontation with police

Occupy Oakland protest for Chris Moreland
Occupy Oakland protest for Chris Moreland

OAKLAND, Calif. —

Nearly 100 people rallied late into the night in Oakland Friday, angry over the arrest of an Occupy protester who got in the face of police earlier this week.

"When Chris is under attack, what do we do? Stand up fight back," was the new rallying cry for Occupy Oakland. The group demanded justice for Chris Moreland Friday night.

Protesters said Oakland police arrested Moreland shortly after a confrontation with officers outside an Oakland church.

Chief Howard Jordan held a community meeting at the church to respond to questions about the killing of 18-year-old Alan Blueford, who was shot by police earlier this May.

Police said Blueford pointed a gun before an officer shot him, but many weren't satisfied with that explanation.

Khalid Shakur also confronted police after the meeting.  

"He wasn't answering the questions of the people," said Shakur, referring to Jordan.

While protesters said Moreland was arrested for a felony, the charge was reduced to misdemeanor for disturbing the peace when he faced a judge Friday.

"Everyone was practicing their first amendment rights, freedom of speech," Shakur said.

"I understand the desire to have questions answered and I understand the community's concern,” said Jordan in a statement he released.  “ I have shared both with the Blueford family and the community what information I can at this point.  I stand by my commitment to ensure a fair and thorough investigation is completed."

Police said Saturday morning that one arrest was made during Friday's march at 9:10 p.m. after a window was broken in the 400 block of Webster Street. That protester, who was not immediately identified, was arrested on suspicion of felony vandalism, an Oakland police officer said.

After the march, a contingent of protesters left to wait outside of Santa Rita Jail in Dublin for Moreland's release early Saturday morning.

Protesters vowed that they would return to Oakland streets for their weekly ant-police march Saturday night as well.

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