Occupy Oakland protesters met earlier Thursday to discuss their stance on vandalism and what steps to take next.

From the San Jose Mercury News:

"It's not about anarchists versus liberals, it's about (expletive) versus occupy Oakland," said the meeting facilitator.
Milani, a camper who did not want to give a last name, spoke against apologizing to businesses. She said it wasn't just outsiders committing vandalism.

"The person I saw putting toilet paper up, they're a facilitator at the general assembly. The person spray painting, they're on the events committee," she said.

Another camper disagreed, and proposed starting a "good neighbor" committee.

None who attended the meeting appeared to be the so-called black block anarchists that clashed with police and destroyed property.

Demonstrations turned violent overnight, which resulted in dozens of injuries and damage to city structures. The main standoff happened at the city's main port, where a link of protesters prevented port workers from entering or leaving the premises.

From Reuters:

City crews and protesters cleaned up graffiti, smashed glass and other debris from downtown Oakland on Thursday after a night that saw mostly peaceful Occupy Wall Street protests turn violent.

Busloads of police in riot gear advanced on demonstrators overnight, firing tear gas to disperse hundreds lingering in the streets hours after thousands of protesters had forced a temporary shutdown of the busy Port of Oakland.

The clampdown appeared aimed at preventing protesters from expanding their foothold in the streets around a public plaza that has become a hub for demonstrations in Oakland, on the eastern banks of San Francisco Bay.

The city said police officers from about 15 agencies had arrested more than 80 people, and that five civilians and three officers were injured in the melee.

Protesters will meet Thursday night to discuss the violence and steps they wish to take moving forward.