Obama makes fundraising stops in the East Bay

OAKLAND, Calif. (KGO) -- President Barack Obama is back in the Bay Area Monday on a fundraising stop that takes him to three different venues.

The first event of the evening was at the Scottish Rite Temple on Oakland's Lake Merritt. Attendees paid $35,800 each for the chance to spend an hour in the president's company.

From the Scottish Rite Temple, Obama headed to another private event at a home in Piedmont where 60 guests also paid $35,800 to spend time with the president.

After the Piedmont event, Obama headed to the Fox Theater for another fundraiser. By 5 p.m., there was already a line wrapped around the building as people waited to get inside. Obama spoke at 8 p.m. to a crowd of 2,000 who each paid $100 to get inside.

Just a block down from the Fox Theater, Bittersweet Cafe put its new Obama blend coffee beans on display. Cafe roaster Jake Rogers threw together the blend of Hawaiian, Kenyan and Indonesian beans over the weekend. The café is also working on a Romney blend; it will be decaf.

Throughout the afternoon, various Oakland streets were shut down in preparation for the president's arrival as well as the many demonstrators expected to be protesting outside the president's events. Oakland police blocked off most of Telegraph Avenue and restricted pedestrian and motor traffic near Broadway and 19th Street, but that isn't preventing demonstrators supporting a wide-range of issues from trying to have their voices and concerns heard.

Among those looking to grab the president's attention were Frostpaw the polar bear, hoping to greet Obama with a message about arctic drilling and supporters of the Dream Act calling on the president to reverse deportations and allow children who were brought into the country illegally immunity. There have also been appearances made by the anti-war group World Can't Wait, Afghans for Peace and demonstrators pushing for the release of Bradley Manning, accused of leaking government secrets to Wikileaks.

Earlier in the afternoon, medical marijuana advocates rallied at Oakland City Hall. Last week, the federal government took steps to shut down Harborside Health Center, one of the largest medical marijuana dispensaries in the Bay Area.

Heather Ishimaru, Lilian Kim, Vic Lee, Mark Matthews and Nick Smith contributed to this report.

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barack obama, oakland, fundraiser, piedmont, elections, 2012 presidential race, politics

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