Thousands of anti-corporatism protesters in the western US city of Oakland have literally brought the country's fifth largest port to a standstill.

(PRESSTV.IR) -- Protesting against economic inequality and corporate greed, the demonstrators on Wednesday joined a general strike and shut down operations at the Port of Oakland, Reuters reported.

The protesters noisily condemned police brutality at a recent 'Occupy Oakland' protest rally and blocked a major Oakland street.

Organizers of the rally had earlier announced their plan to shut down the Port of Oakland, which handles about $39 billion a year in imports and exports, as they geared up for a massive general strike.

“At this time, maritime operations are effectively shut down at the Port of Oakland. Maritime area operations will resume when it is safe and secure to do so,” port officials said in a statement.

Anti-Wall Street protesters also blocked the gates of the port and stood on top of container trucks stranded in the street.

Oakland 'Occupy' movement gained momentum after a former US Marine and a veteran of the US-led war on Iraq was badly wounded by a projectile fired by police during a rally last week.

Oakland's anti-riot police forces hit Marine, Scott Olsen, with a tear gas canister, giving him a fractured skull that led to his hospitalization and an ensuing brain surgery.

Police clashes with protesters also led to the arrest of more than 100 demonstrators last week.

In a move to show opposition to a financial system they believe mainly benefits corporations and the wealthy, the protesters had aimed to disrupt Oakland commerce on Wednesday, with a special focus on banks and other symbols of corporate America.

The Occupy push is a spinoff of the 'Occupy Wall Street' movement, which sprang up in New York City on September 17 to protest social and economic inequalities caused by 'corporate greed' and high-level corruption.

DB/JG/MB