Man Shot on Plaza Near Occupy Oakland Encampment

Can't recall any sexual assaults or persons being shot at any Tea Party rallies:

A man was shot Thursday near the Oakland encampment where anti-Wall Street protesters have been occupying for the last month.


The shooting happened just before 5 p.m. on the edge of the plaza outside Oakland City Hill. The Occupy Oakland encampment sits in the middle of the plaza.


Paramedics on the scene were tending the bleeding man, whose condition wasn't immediately known. Police were interviewing witnesses and trying to contain a crowd of protesters who had tried to prevent television cameramen from taking video.


It also wasn't immediately known if the victim or his assailants were connected to the protest.


The shooting comes a day after a group of Oakland city and business leaders held a news conference demanding the removal of the encampment, saying that it has hurt downtown businesses and has continued to pose safety concerns.


Many protesters fear police will eventually move forward with another early morning raid to remove them. A tear gas-filled clash between demonstrators and police on Oct. 25 resulted in more than 100 arrests and left an Iraq War vet with a serious brain injury.


Mayor Jean Quan allowed the protesters to return to the encampment the day after that raid. The camp has since grown to about 180 tents.


But tensions and safety concerns have resurfaced in recent says, and on Wednesday, Quan asked members of the camp to show respect to the people of Oakland by peacefully leaving.

RELATED: Report: Man shot and killed “near” Occupy Oakland camp