Story at a glance
- Oakland, Calif., saw similar protests as those in Kenosha, Wis., following the police shooting of Jacob Blake.
- Several people were arrested, but no one was injured.
A series of demonstrations, some turning destructive, following this Sunday’s police shooting of Jacob Blake arose in Oakland, Calif., late Wednesday night, according to local outlet KTVU.
While protests started out peacefully, police say demonstrators began breaking windows and setting fires to a car, businesses and the Alameda County Superior Courthouse. Most of the fires set were relatively small and were centralized in streets.
Structures around the area also suffered damage, with police reporting that multiple windows were broken and businesses vandalized.
PROTESTERS’ DEMANDS TO DEFUND THE POLICE TAKE HOLD
YOU MAY THINK YOU’RE NOT A RACIST. BUT THAT’S NOT ENOUGH
NEW VIDEO SHOWS DIFFERENT VIEW OF GEORGE FLOYD ARREST
The Oakland Police Department chronicled the protests on Twitter, writing that between 600 to 700 people demonstrated in “violent and destructive” protests.
The police added that although protesters began throwing objects at responding officers, no police were injured. Several people were arrested, however.
Violent protesters vandalized and started a fire at the Alameda County Superior Court. @OaklandFireCA is on scene. Please stay clear of the area. pic.twitter.com/s22zKdWlkj
— Oakland Police Dept. (@oaklandpoliceca) August 27, 2020
Oakland saw similar protests following the death of George Floyd, a Black man who died when a Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for several minutes. The city police department was handed down new restrictions banning the use of common crowd controlling devices, including tear gas, flash bang grenades and rubber bullets.
Exceptions to the rule are set for situations where police need to safeguard public health and mitigate damage.
During Wednesday’s protests, the police did not appear to deploy any devices.
Oakland police previously tweeted a statement supporting the rights of protesters to organize, but asked all demonstrations be peaceful and safe.
We support 1st Amendment rights and have created safe spaces and safe places for demonstrators. However, setting off fireworks is illegal in Oakland. Yet agitators continue this illegal activity. pic.twitter.com/ir543Rci9W
— Oakland Police Dept. (@oaklandpoliceca) August 27, 2020
The catalyst for Wednesday’s protests in Oakland was the police shooting of Blake. Officers shot Blake, a 29-year-old Black man, several times in the back as he entered his vehicle with his three kids in the backseat.
Blake remains hospitalized, where his family says that he is at least temporarily paralyzed from the waist down.
Police were reportedly called in response to a domestic incident in Kenosha when they encountered Blake. Witnesses at the scene say that he was helping break apart the conflict.
The officers involved have been placed on administrative leave.
Protests were also sparked in Kenosha following the shooting, which turned deadly on Tuesday when three people were shot. Two of them died as a result of their injuries.
Police have arrested a 17-year-old named Kyle Rittenhouse from Antioch, Ill., in connection to the shootings.
STATE OF MINNESOTA FILES HUMAN RIGHTS COMPLAINT AGAINST MINNEAPOLIS POLICE
CELEBRITIES INCLUDING JOHN LEGEND AND THE WEEKND SIGN PETITION TO DEFUND THE POLICE
MOST AMERICANS SUPPORT PROTESTORS OVER PRESIDENT TRUMP
BOOKS ON RACE AND DISCRIMINATION BECOME BESTSELLERS IN WAKE OF GEORGE FLOYD KILLING
changing america copyright
