George Floyd protest in Oakland intensifies with fires, tear gas as thousands take to the streets
Updated: May 30, 2020 12:09 a.m.
A protest in Oakland Friday night over the police-custody death in Minneapolis of George Floyd devolved into chaos, with fires being set, windows smashed, police officers struck by thrown objects and tear gas and rubber bullets fired at protesters.
Thousands of people took to Oakland’s streets in what began as a largely spirited but peaceful assembly four days after Floyd, a black man, died after a white police officer pinned him to the ground by kneeling on his neck and refusing to let up, even as the man yelled that he couldn’t breathe.
Protesters spray painted buildings, stopped traffic on I-880, threw fireworks and set fires inside some buildings. At one point, Several people tore off the wooden boards at Walgreens near 14th Street and Broadway near Oakland City Hall and used the boards to break their way in. They ran out with baskets with merchandise. A fire was ignited inside the store.
At the corner of Eighth Street and Broadway, protesters shattered the windows and glass doors of a Starbucks. Protesters also smashed windows at City Hall and a Chase bank.
The doors of a Target at 27th Street and Broadway were smashed and a fire burned in a dumpster across the street. Clothing, hangers and bedding were strewn outside the store. People formed an assembly line to loot. One person ran back and forth and handed off merchandise to people standing outside.
Smoke billowed out of a Mercedes Benz showroom near 29th Street and Broadway. The windows of a Honda dealership at 33th Street and Broadway were smashed.
A person spray-painted outside City Hall, “We have nothing to lose but our chains.” Another group of protesters tore a row of Lyft bikes out of the pavement nearby city hall and dragged it out into the middle of the street. The dock that held the bikes was set on fire. And a large trash bin was set ablaze.
Just before 11 p.m., police officers walked in a line up 14th Street toward Broadway, pushing protesters back from where a fire had been set in the middle of the road. Officers deployed smoke bombs to disperse the crowd. A large fire was also burning near the 19th Street BART station.
Earlier in the evening, at Seventh and Broadway, police declared an unlawful assembly and deployed tear gas after officers were struck by thrown objects.
Protesters poured milk or water in their eyes bending over on the sidewalks and in the street once they had retreated.
Officials estimated more than 5,000 people were protesting in Oakland. One officer was injured and several people were detained, said Johnna Watson, a spokeswoman for the Police Department.
Two security guards were shot near 12th and Clay streets. The shooting doesn’t appear to be related to the demonstration, the police department said.
In San Jose, police officers fired rubber bullets and deployed tear gas on hundreds of protesters outside of San Jose’s City Hall Friday evening as people chanted “F— the police.” People screamed, “Gas, gas, gas” as loud flash bangs could be heard and smoke filled the air near Fifth and Santa Clara streets.
At least one officer was injured during the protest and was taken to Valley Medical Center, said Mayor Sam Liccardo. The officer’s condition was unknown. Several arrests were made, Liccardo said.
Dozens of people keeled over, coughing, and poured water into their eyes. Some protesters weaved throughout the dense crowd, shouting, “Water, who needs water?”
Kiara Topete, a 19-year-old from Milpitas, said she was standing in front of police when one shot her with a rubber bullet in the shin.
“I didn’t do anything, I didn’t throw anything, I didn’t pose a threat to them, they just shot me,” she said. “It burns. It really hurts, I’ve never felt anything like this.”
Several people picked up spent gas canisters and water bottles, hurling them toward the line of police blocking City Hall. Police responded by deploying more tear gas and firing rubber bullets.
Just before 9 p.m., most of the crowd had dissipated. A charred trash bin remained in the middle of the street near City Hall. A destroyed Toyota 4Runner sat at the corner of Third and Santa Clara streets. And police remained on guard.
At 9:06 p.m., Santa Clara County Sheriff deputies were involved in a shooting that occurred just blocks away at Sixth and Santa Clara streets, said Sgt. Enrique Garcia, a spokesman from the San Jose Police Department.
Garcia did not provide any additional information.
more:
https://www.sfchronicle.com/crime/article/San-Jose-police-deploy-tear-gas-fire-rubber-15304376.php