prosesers have blocked the -- protesters have blocked the front door to a wells fargo bank. good morning i'm cheryl jennings. >> and i'm kristen sze the first of many actions to come. corporate greed protesters are targeting banks and schools. >> mark matthews is at the port. let's begin with amy hollyfield. >> reporter: this plaza is the center of it all. they've had to block off this intersection and a couple of blocks at broadway and 14th to handle the huge crowds. right now the group is marching through the streets targeting the banks. they were speakers here this morning. even a surprise. a flash mob broke out at 14th and bring a group did a dance to "i will survive." this was a crowd favorite the group learned the dance moments before they went out and did it. we've seen all ages, babies to grandmothers. teachers, nurses, students, quite a variety of people showing support for this general strike. those who did skip work today tell us they are satisfied with the turn-out and how the strike is going. >> i think [ unintelligible ] all the small businesses that closed -- [ inaudible ] >> fantastic so far we had angela davis speaking drawing connections between here and other struggles around the world saying we are for the occupies of oakland and say no to the occupation of palestine. it is great to be political discussion and figuring out the next steps for our movement. >> reporter: here's a shot of political activist angela davis addressing the crowd. she was on a stage at 14th and broadway where the center of the movement is today. expect that intersection to be closed throughout the day. they are going to meet begin -- meet again to rally at noon. in front of city hall rappers in the plaza, informative areas. there's a little of something for everyone. it feels like a festival, the mood is enthusiastic and energetic. there's been a variety of reactions to this. the coffee shop is closed. but the subway sandwich shop across the street is he did odtqu+ clorox corporation on broadway is closed to visitors there are employees there. the city of oakland is reporting 5% of is employees went on strike today to participate. we haven't seen hardly any police officers, maybe one or two. they were ordered to take a hands off approach today, they are doing that. we have not seen a heavy police presence if any at all today. it has been nothing but peaceful. just a lot of people out having fun. getting their word out and participating in a variety of activities. they are on the march now. the majority are marching, they will be back to regroup at noon. live in oakland, amy hollyfield, abc7 news. this morning oakland's police chief said he expects today's demonstrations to be peaceful. mayor quan says she is dealing with the occupy movement on a day-to-day basis. >> we do not anticipate the need for enforcement actions to occur. in the event that activities should being unlawful or destruction should occur the police department is prepared to respond to protect life and property. >> i'm trying to get the campers to understand their impact on downtown and plan to try to continue to facilitate and work on that issue. >> mayor quan says less than 5% of city workers have taking a threating holiday or furlough day. the only city service currently affected is the headstart program. that has 15 sites closed today. >> the immediate area of downtown oakland near city hall looks like a ghost town. we are not seeing many walking the streets along frank ogawa plaza. many businesses shutdown and ed up. business owners were urged by city officials to remain open. some smaller businesses which support the movement did. city officials advise banks to remain open and only allow customers in. you can see from the sign many of the banks are closed. >> as a precautionary measure the oakland police department has advised the banks their doors should be closed to everyone except customers and they should facilitate customer access through secured doors. >> right now we want to go to our laura anthony by phone. she is at 13th and broadway. what are you seeing now? >> reporter: i'm here at 12th and broadway. there are several hundred people here in the intersection. they've blocked broadway at 12th street as we speak they are taping signs up on the wells fargo bank and comerica bank across the street on broadway. there's a giant check that says -- taped across the front doors of wells fargo, atm machines they put up signs over saying occupy oakland, close down the banks that sort of thing. they are khafpbting, singing. the wells fargo building the same building that houses clorox headquarters. it appears the focus is on the banks here in downtown oakland. [ unintelligible ] business as usual in these two banks. some of the other businesses the walgreens and rite-aid at 14th and broadway [ inaudible ] hundreds of protesters out here. at this point i don't see any sign of any police officers. >> laura, thanks very much. occupy protesters claim sympathizers have already shutdown the port of oakland. mark matthews live at the port. mark true or not true? >> reporter: not true. protesters are claiming credit for something that is unrelated to the general strike. you see the trucks backed up, they are there because of a labor dispute relating to safety concerns about refrigerated trucks refurbished in vietnam. yesterday the wait was 10 hours today it is a little shorter. the drivers tell me they are able to get in. sky 7 was up overhead this morning. they are moving containers albeit slowly because of this labor dispute. a trucking company owner say police are staging for a protest action that is anticipated later today. police are here right now they are inside a warehouse. we expect to go and explore that later. for now this is a labor dispute. it is not a general strike. mark matthews, abc7 news. katie marzullo joins us from melrose leadership academy in oakland. a teacher there is using today's strike as a lesson? >> reporter: that's right. hundreds of teachers are participating in occupy oakland events. some are skipping school and using a personal day. others are staying in school and teaching about occupy oakland. before the first bell teachers in oakland held an informational picket at the entrance to campus. a world history and government teacher dressed as a piece of a pie says she has been using occupy oakland as a contrast to her lesson about the french revolution. >> one of the reasons we will not have a bloody revolution in this country is we have avenues to make change in a peaceful way advocated. >> reporter: when her sub showed up she left for frank ogawa plaza. >> police came through on the order of the mayor's office and took down the camp. i thought i was interesting, i was a peaceful -- i thought it was interesting it was a peaceful camp and the police took it down. >> reporter: this teacher chose to stay and use today as a teaching moment. >> as a teacher my job is not to persuade kids it is about making them critical thinkers 8th grade is a great time where they can develop their own ideas and think about what -- make their own decisions about the world and the movement. >> reporter: the mother of a grader wanted her son to attend school today, specifically for that education. >> i trust the teachers will explain to him a little about what is going on and bring funding to the school. we have a lack of funding at this school. >> reporter: she says she will take her son downtown afterschool. benji will be there too. >> i support the ideas behind the occupied movement the requested of 1% controls everything totally unfair for the rest of us, i'm in the 99%. >> reporter: a few moments ago i spoke with a spokesman for the oakland school district. he says 360 teachers used personal days today out of 2,000. katie marzullo, abc7 news. we want to know how today's strike is impacting you. if you would like to weigh in go to facebook.com/abc7news. coming up, we are going to check back in with what is happening on the streets of oakland. here's another live look. some of the demonstrators outside wells fargo are returning to frank ogawa >> reporter: i'm terry mcsweeney north of the city of napa firefighters are concerned about the wind and how it might rekindle the fire that tore through 90 acres last night and burned this house to the ground. i'll tell but the volunteers who prevented a bad situation @ @ @ @ @ @aaaaaaaaa)a)a)a)a)pt i love to eat. i love hanging out with my friends. i have a great fit with my dentures. i love kiwis. i've always had that issue with the seeds getting under my denture. super poligrip free -- it creates a seal of the dentures in my mouth. even well-fitting dentures let in food particles. super poligrip is zinc free. with just a few dabs, it's clinically proven to seal out more food particles so you're more comfortable and confident while you eat. super poligrip free made the kiwi an enjoyable experience. [ charlie ] try zinc free super poligrip. >> closed captioning brought to you by mancini sleepworld. back to our top story. the occupy oakland's general strike today with a look at protest right now. people who are angry about economic inequality. you can see things peaceful. people have gathered in front of the citibank on broadway making their message heard. they are also at wells fargo bank, you saw that. looks like they may be moving down broadway and taking those actions in friend of banks. the protest started 9:00 this morning at 14 inn and broadway. this afternoon they plan to march to the port of oakland where they say they will try to shut it down. they claimed this morning they did but it was not anything of their doing. >> a lot of people have brought their children to that. so far thankfully, it is peaceful, which is great news. firefighters in napa are still actively fighting hot spots from a 90 acre fire that destroyed a home overnight and knocked out power to hundreds for a while. terry mcsweeney joins us with more. >> reporter: there are beautiful views to be had here in the hills above the napa valley as you can see in the distance with this wind right here is sad. it happened last night 10:00 a wind-whipped grass fire tore up the hill in front of this home and burned at this time to the ground. fire crews still dealing with hot spot two miles north of napa the fire was contained 8:00 this morning. conditions will dictate if it kicks up again. >> the wind has definitely died down. they are still predicting some north northeast winds through midday today. of course we've got that low pressure trough coming from the gulf of alaska that is going to cool temperatures and see rain possibly snow in some of the higher elevations tomorrow. >> reporter: 165 firefighters turned out after the powerline went down and the wind pushed the flames into what had been a husband with a beautiful view. every piece of wood that could burn, did. dozens of neighbors were evacuated. >> we needed to get out the second time the cops came they said you don't have five minutes. go now. >> reporter: those firefighters on the lines are mostly volunteers. it is way they do it in rural areas, certainly near napa. >> coming out and dropping all their business, crushing grapes, things like that to come and help the community. >> reporter: davie a volunteer firefighter for 25 years, manages 55 vineyards. in the middle of his busiest time of year is one of the many who dropped everything to fight last night's fire. >> it is hard when you are working all day and before you go to bed you get out and start fighting fire all night. that is what you do for the community. >> reporter: one gorgeous home, gone. as are other out-buildings, including a four car garage. this scene could have been repeated without volunteer firefighters. right now the 300 customers who lost power last night have their power become. the 24 i evacuated are allowed to go -- to go back to their hopes. the wind blowing to a minor degree up here now. they are hoping that the rains tomorrow get here in time to put an end to the threat. terry mcsweeney, abc7 news. winds, rain, mike is going to talk about winds are slower now about 12 miles per hour. they had gusts up to 50 in the north bay this morning. winds of change bringing fall into the forecast, cooler and several chances you can see clclclcl back to our top story right now sky 7 hd is live over the scene of the occupy oakland protest. today a day of general strike joined by labor unions, teachers, a lot of different groups, families are out there. they marched on several banks. and there is no visible police presence. everything is peaceful now it is affecting transportation. ac transit buses rerouted. also, some of the headstart programs were affected and shutdown as well as some businesses. right now, they are gathering at frank ogawa plaza outside oakland city hall. we'll keep an eye on this for you. sunshine out there mike it appears the winds have died down? >> definitely quieter than they were before. at 9:00 the red flag warning expired. so our fire danger is lessening. beautiful look at this clear sky over the bay area this morning. that is going to be the case as we head through at least the rest of today. once we get past today all bets are off. a lot of people talking about allergies. we have air as dry as 9% humidity to 30% in santa rosa. you know it is dry, but that is exceptionally dry even by our standards. helped to warm the temperatures, should say 60s and 70s right now, sorry i don't know why the computer didn't update that. mostly sunny, calmer conditions today. showers tomorrow and they will start a cooling trend that will last through next tuesday. temperatures well below average. wet weather sneaks back in saturday, sunday. today high clouds and sun mid 70s in the east bay valleys low to mid 70s north to south along the east bay shore south bay mid 70s around 75 or 76° low to mid 70s north to south on the peninsula near 70 half moon bay upper 60s for everybody else near 70 downtown south san francisco sausalito mid 70s through the north bay valleys monterey bay and carmel 70s. calm tonight and cool with upper 30s in the north bay valleys the rest of news the 40s until you get to oakland and san francisco around 50. -- high pressure movinging away next system we are get -- getting the tail end more than anything else is cooler weather chance of light rain by 7 to 9 tomorrow will start moving into the north bay that light rain will spread south during the mid-afternoon and fall apart then scattered showers thursday into friday. thunderstorms i think most will stay out over the ocean water. frost possible in the north bay valley saturday morning. another chance of showers sunday night. don't forget daylight saving ends saturday night. moving ceremony today on capitol hill to honor japanese-americans who served in world war ii. leaders from the house and senate awarded the congressional gold medal to the 19,000 japanese-americans who served during the war. more than 300 recipients, including several from the bay area attended today's ceremony. the gold medal is congress' highest civilian honor. all were sent to internment camps at the beginning of the war but thingsed the government to be allowed to fight for the. -- but petitioned the government to be allowed to fight for the u.s.. >> this has been a long journey, but a glorious one. we wish to thank all of you, all americans for this recognition. >> among today's honorees were members of the 442nd battalion the most deck -- decorated unit u.s. history another live look at the occupy oakland demonstration growing by the minute right now outside city hall. >> so many people there frustrated by the weak economy, lack of jobs calling themselves part of the 99% who don't have wealth in this country. we'll continue to follow this throughout the day with live coverage coming up on abc7 news at 4:00 and 5:00. >> you can follow it on toothpaste is the wrong thing to use on a denture, it could be very abrasive. if the surface gets abraded, it's just the environment that bacteria likes to nestle into and they can cause the odor. your denture needs to be cleaned gently on a daily basis. i like to recommend polident, it kills the bacteria without causing any abrasion. when my patients follow my instructions, their dentures feel clean and fresh. they look forward to putting them in their mouth and smiling.