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OAKLAND — Around the East Bay, protesters gathered outside police department headquarters to register frustration with law enforcement Thursday in the wake of outrage over this week’s death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police and recent East Bay police shootings, authorities said.
Between 2 and 2:30 p.m., several protesters gathered outside Berkeley police headquarters before leaving after an hour and heading south into Oakland, a Berkeley police spokesman said.
Around 4:10 p.m., other protesters entered westbound lanes of Interstate 980 east of 27th Street, but California Highway Patrol officers responded to motorists’ calls alerting them and peacefully removed them by about 4:30 p.m.
“Our goals are to keep the freeways safe in general,” CHP Officer Sean Layton said. “We’re always here to provide a high level of safety and security, and as things come into play, we can go from there.”
Shortly after 5 p.m., around 60 protesters assembled outside Oakland police headquarters on 7th Street just west of Broadway before marching up Broadway, wearing masks and physically spacing out, to Frank Ogawa Plaza.
By 5:40 p.m., several dozen protesters peacefully gathered in the plaza outside Oakland City Hall. Police reported no incidents or episodes Thursday.
“Danzante,” or Aztec dances, being performed in front of @HaywardPD pic.twitter.com/tWnoLrnrUE
— Dylan Bouscher (@DylanBouscher) May 29, 2020
Outside the Hayward Police Department on West Winton Avenue on Thursday afternoon, a group of about 50 people demonstrated against police violence across the country, especially against people of color, as well as recent police shootings in Hayward, including one Wednesday in which officers shot and stunned a man in his driveway after police said he had approached them with a knife. The man was hospitalized but survived his injuries.
It marked the second shooting by the city’s police in a week. While police didn’t confirm the man’s name, a relative of the man told this news organization his name is Eric “Gato” Rosalia, of Hayward. Some at Thursday’s demonstrations held signs that said “We are not target practice” and “Justice 4 Eric Gato and George Floyd.”
Before Thursday’s demonstration, Hayward Police Chief Toney Chaplin addressed events in Minnesota in passing: “We’ve all seen that video. Nobody can defend that and it’s hard to watch. The death of Mr. Floyd is deeply disturbing, and the officers’ actions are inconsistent with the training and protocols for our profession, quite frankly.”
Reina Escovedo, 32, of Hayward, came to the demonstration because “too many people’s lives are being taken by the police, people of color” in places like Minneapolis, San Leandro, and Hayward, she said. “It makes me sad, it makes me mad. People who are supposed to be protecting us shouldn’t be taking our lives,” Escovedo said.
Jeronimo Aguilar, 28, came from Sacramento to speak out against what he called a “sheer disregard for the community, especially black and brown people.” Aguilar said activists haven’t seen police violence stop even after reforms like body cameras have been widely adopted and greater police use of force transparency laws have been instituted in California.
“So we’re left with little or no options other than to come out here and put boots on the ground and say ‘We’re gonna stand and shout until you guys listen to us,'” Aguilar said.
After a traditional Aztec prayer dance, a large group of demonstrators walked into the lobby of the police department around 7 p.m. chanting slogans like “If we don’t get no justice, they don’t get no peace.” Some of the group also briefly blocked traffic near the corner of Santa Clara Street and West Winton, while many cars passed nearby honking in support. Police issued an alert around 7:45 p.m. advising drivers to avoid the area due to traffic congestion.
In San Jose, protesters circulated plans on social media for a “solidarity action” in Floyd’s memory outside San Jose City Hall at 2 p.m. Friday.
Oakland City Administrator Ed Reiskin issued a brief statement about Thursday’s protest, as well as another expected at 8 p.m. Friday at the plaza, and said police had “increased staffing to facilitate freedom of speech, while also maintaining public safety.”
Reiskin also shared statements by Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf and interim Oakland Police Department chief Susan Manheimer offering condolences in the wake of the widely shared video of Floyd’s death Monday.
The killing of George Floyd is our American travesty, repeated. It’s a nauseating act of gov. violence against a Black man, and it angers our city and communities across the country. We can, and must, undo the systems that allow it, and build a more beloved community right now.
— Libby Schaaf (@LibbySchaaf) May 28, 2020
Schaaf called the incident an “American travesty, repeated. It’s a nauseating act of government violence against a Black man, and it angers our city and communities across the country. We can, and must, undo the systems that allow it, and build a more beloved community right now.”
Message from Interim Police Chief Susan E. Manheimer regarding #GeorgeFloyd incident. pic.twitter.com/7g3OnwDi3O
— Oakland Police Dept. (@oaklandpoliceca) May 29, 2020
Chief Manheimer also weighed in, saying police were “deeply disturbed” by Floyd’s death.”It is paramount for us to continue to build trust and relationships with our community members and this reflects on all of us in our profession. We at the Oakland Police Department train and practice that all of our officers treat every individual with dignity and respect,” Manheimer said in part.
In a rare joint statement by police officer associations for San Jose, San Francisco and Oakland noted that “on the very same day of Mr. Floyd’s death, there were literally millions of encounters and interactions with public-safety professionals throughout our country that were peaceful, respectful and problem-solving oriented. We will not let the failures shown in this incident tarnish the hard work and sacrifice of those officers who get it right on a daily basis.”
Statement From PORAC On The Death Of Mr. George Floyd https://t.co/4Q8yAk5uTq
— PORAC (@PORACalifornia) May 28, 2020
The Peace Officers Research Association of California also weighed in with its condolences, acknowledging community outrage but also calling for peaceful protest over any urge to damage property.
“We have an opportunity to take this negative tragedy and bring about a positive discussion regarding the need for a national standard on use of force, as well as minimum training and recruitment standards,” PORAC President Brian Marvel said. “PORAC has been an advocate of this and has carried this message to Washington D.C. for several years.”
Staff writer Harry Harris contributed to this report. Contact George Kelly at 408-859-5180.
