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OAKLAND — Days after Wisconsin police shot a Black man, protesters gathered anew to call for justice on Wednesday evening in Frank Ogawa Plaza.
Demonstrators spoke on the shooting of Jacob Blake, who was struck multiple times by a police officer on Sunday in Kenosha, Wisconsin.
Speaker says black and brown communities have power, not just politicians #JusticeForJacobBlake #Oakland pic.twitter.com/khiJ3yIKdo
— George Kelly (@allaboutgeorge) August 27, 2020
Multiple rounds of protests have sought to center long-standing grievances over policing and public order nationally and locally, spurred by multiple incidents this year, including the March no-knock raid in Louisville, Kentucky, that led to Breonna Taylor’s death, the California Highway Patrol officer-led traffic stop in June that killed Erik Salgado and injured his girlfriend in East Oakland, and George Floyd’s death at the hands of Minneapolis police.
At one point, a demonstrator in Oakland on Wednesday led a cheer for the NBA player strike that had started earlier in the day, saying that “the labor moment has been so absent, so missing in action that no one even notices.”
Chant: “No racist cops
No KKK
Justice for Jacob Blake”#Oakland #JusticeForJacobBlake pic.twitter.com/e7kdqOYK9x
— George Kelly (@allaboutgeorge) August 27, 2020
The demonstration, which saw upward of 700 participants, morphed into a march through city streets. In a series of tweets, police said “agitators in the crowd” were setting fires, breaking windows, spray-painting slogans and lighting off fireworks, as well as pointing lasers and throwing objects at officers.
In a statement Thursday afternoon, Oakland Police Officer Johnna Watson said in part that the “intentions of the protesters were not peaceful but deliberate; through their words and actions they demonstrated their focused and targeted intentions to destroy and damage our already vulnerable business community.”
Watson said crowd members’ actions “continued to traumatize our community; many residents attempted to deter protesters in their neighborhoods but were met with threats of violence and destruction. Officers encouraged our community members to shelter in place while attempting to curb the violence and protect the safety of our community as well as our officers.”
Windows on 21 businesses, as well as “many windows of a 100% affordable residential housing complex on Grand Avenue” were broken, and Oakland Fire Department firefighters responded to at least two dozen fires, including two vehicles, trash cans and debris.
Police also towed a vehicle and arrested several people, identified only as non-city residents.
Some within the crowd are disruptive and have no regard for others safety. Multiple fires set. Thankfully @OaklandFireCA are putting the fires out as OPD officers are working to maintain safety. pic.twitter.com/jBz8bxx7gZ
— Oakland Police Dept. (@oaklandpoliceca) August 27, 2020
About 10:10 p.m., police declared an unlawful assembly, but the march continued. Interstate 580 was temporarily blocked by demonstrators at one point and a small fire was also set inside the René C. Davidson Courthouse at 1225 Fallon St., police said.
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, a city long known for large peaceful protests as well as some splinter groups causing property damage, has seen demonstrations throughout the year. The fatal shooting of a federal security officer during a protest earlier this year was later alleged by federal prosecutors to be an attempt by extremists to incite civil war.
Oakland city officials earlier Wednesday said that they would aim to facilitate peaceful protests in the streets.
“Over the past month, we have continued to facilitate peaceful protests and expressions of outrage about social injustice and racial inequality. The Oakland Police Department has increased staffing to provide safe space for the demonstrations to occur and will facilitate free speech while maintaining public safety,” Oakland city administrator Ed Reiskin said in part Wednesday.
“We celebrate passionate protest, but remind Oaklanders that when they attend protests after dark they may be providing cover for agitators who are more intent on vandalism and stoking civil unrest than advancing social justice.”
City officials said residents may sign up for Nixle, a platform Oakland police use to alert residents about possible traffic disruptions and station closures related to protests or police activity, by texting your ZIP code to 888777 on a mobile phone to opt in to alerts.
Contact George Kelly at 408-859-5180.
