Occupy Oakland permit revoked

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OAKLAND, Calif., Jan. 4 (UPI) -- An Occupy Oakland (Calif.) teepee and leafleting table must be removed from a city plaza as a result of a scuffle between protesters and police, officials said.

Thirteen people were arrested and one police officer was hit in the head with a chair Friday when authorities attempted to enforce a rule saying protesters could not store personal items at the teepee at Frank H. Ogawa Plaza, the Oakland Tribune reported Tuesday.

Sgt. Chris Bolton said Tuesday police were working with permit holder Becca Von Behren to prevent further confrontation as the teepee and table are removed.

Interim Police Chief Howard Jordan revoked the permit for the teepee because protesters had violated its conditions by sleeping at the site, distributing food and setting up trash cans.

Phil Horne, an attorney advising the protesters, said the city is wrongly blaming the Occupy supporters for problems at the plaza.

"You don't need a permit to exercise your First Amendment rights," he said.