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A local activist in Oakland claimed he was assaulted by a member of Mayor Sheng Tao’s private security team during a press conference on Wednesday morning.
Videos posted on social media show an altercation breaking out between members of the security team and demonstrators supporting the recall campaign against the mayor.
Tense exchange between Seneca Scott and KANO special services (Fox 2)
In multiple posts on X, formerly known as Twitter, activist Seneca Scott is seen getting into a heated confrontation with members of the KANO special services while a press conference is in progress.
In one video, Scott claims that one of the members physically assaulted him, while the KANO members repeatedly told him to “stop provoking you.”
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At some point, Oakland Police Department officers are called to the scene, but it’s not clear if any arrests were made.
“I was just physically attacked.” [Oakland City Councilmember Carrol Fife] Security guards and supporters are just holding up signs as usual at our rallies,” Scott said.
“This is what it is in Oakland. Violence surrounds people everywhere you go. Luckily, the guy who tried to hit me was too weak to even knock off my sunglasses. But yeah. , the fanatic left is violent and very worrying.”
Mr Scott said he was “1000%” planning to sue the City of Oakland.
Scott is an ardent supporter of the burgeoning recall campaign against Mayor Thao, which officially began over the weekend. The recall campaign comes as multiple stores in the city, including In-N-Out and Denny’s, have been closed due to an increase in robberies, robberies and violent crimes.
Oakland Police are investigating a shooting that occurred at the Fruitvale Public Market Square along East 12th Street and 34th Street on Tuesday, May 16, 2023 in Oakland, California. (Getty Images)
A spike in crime has forced health insurance companies Blue Shield and Clorox, both headquartered in Oakland, to hire employee “security guards.”
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Wednesday’s press conference was about Mayor Tao’s announcement of a $3.5 million safety grant. The grant is aimed at expanding the Safety Ambassador program, which deploys mediators trained in de-escalation to help people in crisis, to downtown and Chinatown, FOX 2 reported.
Oakland Mayor Shen Tao announced the firing of Oakland Police Chief Rulon Armstrong during a press conference at City Hall in Oakland, California, Wednesday, February 15, 2023. (Jane Tiska/Bay Area News Group, via AP)
Tao said from the stage that the program promotes “safer, safer streets while improving outcomes for people at risk.”
“Oakland is actively pursuing a comprehensive safety plan,” she said.
Shedrick Henry, KANO’s special services security supervisor, said Scott appeared at the press conference with his hired “day laborers” and called out “both the mayor and community members” who had gathered to support Scott’s efforts. “I made them violently hostile,” he said.
Supporters of the recall campaign against Oakland Mayor Shen Tao attend a press conference. (Fox 2)
Mr. Henry claimed that tensions escalated and Mr. Scott “assaulted” one of the KANO employees (an elderly man) to the ground, but it is not clear from the video footage.
Henry said KANO Special Services was a “community organization that does violence prevention work” and was not Mayor Tao’s security team.
“We are filing charges of assault and battery against an elderly employee who was intentionally thrown to the ground,” Henry said, vowing to counter-sue. “Seneca Scott is the face of the recall movement, and this incident shows how violent and dishonest he can be.”
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Asked to comment on Henry’s statement, Scott told Fox News Digital: “He’s lying. Everyone saw him hit me.”
“They were also very aggressive from the onslaught,” Scott said.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the mayor’s office for comment.
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