Report-back from activists who “went inside” the Urban Shield convention and trade show in Oakland September 4th-7th and were “volunteers” at some of the exercises. And discussion of next steps.

Join Shane Bauer and others on this, the 3rd anniversary of the occupation of Oscar Grant Plaza as they discuss the militarization of the police.

Shane Bauer is a journalist who, with Sarah Shourd and Josh Fattel, were kidnapped by Iranian border guards and imprisoned in solitary in Iran for many months. After his return to the US. Shane wrote about Pelican Bay, California’s notorious solitary confinement facility for inmates.

A month ago, as he was observing one of the Urban Shield exercises as a official member of the press he was ordered to stop taking pictures and leave.

Urban Shield, a convention devoted to the glorification of the militarization of the police, has been happening in Oakland since 2007. The Mayor announced that it would not be held in Oakland next year, but it will still be held elsewhere, probably at another location in Alameda County. It should be stopped once and for all or, barring that, Oakland and Oakland’s police should not participate.