THOUSANDS OF PROTESTERS blocked off parts of downtown Oakland, California in largely peaceful protests yesterday, effectively forcing a number of banks and the port to shut down.

A small number of shops were damaged and bank windows smashed during yesterday’s Occupy Oakland march.

Following yesterday’s peaceful march, riot police moved in to clear protesters from their camp at Frank Ogawa Plaza. Police fired several rounds of tear gas and threw flash bang grenades as bins burned with flames over a dozen feet high.

Dozens of people were arrested and at least one person was injured in last night’s clashes, according to the Oakland Tribune. It is understood two other demonstrators were injured when they were struck by a car attempting to drive through the protest march.

Oakland’s Occupy Wall Street movement has escalated from tents and rallies to clashes with police and yesterday’s forced shutdown of one of America’s busiest shipping ports. The movement had called on Oakland residents to participate in a general strike yesterday and a number of people were brought directly to the port by bus, while others marched through downtown to the area.

In pictures: Occupy Oakland protesters force banks, port to close

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Occupy Oakland
Occupy Oakland protesters stand atop a railroad scaffold at the Port of Oakland yesterday. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
Occupy Oakland
Some of yesterday's Occupy Oakland protesters marching in the city. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)
Occupy Oakland
An Occupy Oakland protester holds up a sign in front of a bonfire last night. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Occupy Oakland
An Occupy protester shows peace signs to Oakland Police officers. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Occupy Oakland
Protesters smash windows at a Wells Fargo bank branch during the Occupy Oakland march. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
Occupy Oakland
An Occupy Oakland protester waves a flag next to a bonfire as Oakland Police fire tear gas. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Last week, a protester was seriously injured in clashes between hundreds of Occupy Oakland demonstrators and riot police, as authorities moved in to clear a protest camp from the city’s Frank Ogawa Plaza. The camp later reformed.

The Occupy Oakland group’s general assembly decided earlier this week to encourage the occupation of properties which have been foreclosed on in the city. A similar movement is also underway in San Francisco.

The Occupy Wall Street movement which began in mid-September has spread to dozens of cities around the world, including Dublin, London and Sydney.

- Additional reporting by the AP

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