War Vet Injured in Occupy Protest Leaves Hospital

The Iraqi war vet critically injured last month at an Occupy Oakland protest is out of the hospital, reports Reuters. Scott Olsen "is still struggling with speech, but is attempting conversations without having the writing instrument out," wrote a friend at a blog post. Olsen, 24, apparently got struck in the head by a tear gas canister, and police have opened an investigation into his injury. Friends say he is able to follow the Occupy protests and is doing so "closely." (A second veteran was injured later.)

Oakland police, meanwhile, released an open letter to protesters in the wake of this week's fatal shooting. "Oakland police officers are the 99% and we understand and sympathize with your message," it reads. "We respect your right to peaceful protest." But it says the shooting makes clear that the protests at Frank Ogawa Plaza are no longer safe and are draining police resources. "Please leave peacefully, with your heads held high, so we can get police officers back to work fighting crime in Oakland neighborhoods." Read it in full here. (More Occupy Oakland stories.)