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OAKLAND — Multiple Moms 4 Housing members and at least one supporter were arrested before dawn Tuesday morning while a small crowd of protesters stood by, chanting, filming and sometimes arguing with deputies.

The group had been squatting in an empty West Oakland house to call attention to the city’s homelessness crisis, and to protest speculators buying homes and leaving them vacant.

Just after 5:30 a.m. Tuesday, the group sent out a mass text message to its supporters, asking them to come to the Magnolia Street house because deputies were banging on the door. Shortly after, deputies handcuffed and led away at least two Moms 4 Housing members who had been living in the house, including Misty Cross. A male supporter also was arrested.

As she was being led into an Alameda County Sheriff’s Office van, Cross said the fight wasn’t over.

“What happens next is the next movement,” she said. “This is only a piece of it. We’re going to be out in a minute. we’ll be back. We’ll be right back.”

Founder Dominique Walker was not arrested, but ran after the other members as they were being loaded into sheriff’s office vans, visibly upset and having to be restrained by Carroll Fife, regional director of Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment, who has been working with Moms 4 Housing. Walker did not answer questions from the media.

The women being arrested said their children, who also had been living in the house with them, were safe.

Deputies blocked off the streets around the house before carrying out the eviction, in an effort to keep back the throngs of supporters who have flocked there in the past to support Moms 4 Housing. By 7 a.m., several dozen supporters had shown up anyway, and were chanting next to a line of deputies in riot helmets. As the protesters chanted, law enforcement boarded up the front door of the house, which still had Moms 4 Housing banners hanging outside.

The sheriff’s office plans to hold a briefing on the arrests at its San Leandro substation later this morning, according to Sgt. Ray Kelly.

This is a developing story. Check back for more details.