Local Clergy Hopes Occupy Oakland Message Outlasts Encampment

OAKLAND (KCBS)— Prayer and meditation at the Interfaith Tent was in stark contrast from where a young man was shot dead on Thursday near Frank Ogawa Plaza, just a few feet away.

Lead by Reverend Gregory Brown, head of the Northern California Religious Conference, clergy from a wide range of denominations descended on the Occupy Oakland campsite to preach peace and to prevent any more violence.

The ministers said they hope the goals of the movement will outlive the encampment itself.

KCBS' Doug Sovern Reports:

Brown prayed for Mayor Jean Quan, the protesters and the police.

"We pray that if there's a relocation of anyone in the city that it would be done without any type of violence or any type of authority that causes any physical or harassing form," Brown said.

Pastor B.K. Woodson said Occupy Wall Street has awakened the people and that it's too late to silence them no matter how City Hall responds.

"Something about the times in which we're living is fermenting viral, rapid, substantive voices which we hope will end in substantive change to the system," Woodson said.

The pastors said they support the protesters, but they also think the movement needs to focus on affecting change and not holding a piece of land, unofficially renamed Oscar Grant Plaza.

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