92 arrested in Oakland protests

Oakland police arrested 92 people Tuesday during the second day of demonstrations that lasted more than six hours and breached two freeways, according to police.

The demonstrators were protesting a grand jury‘s decision to not indict Ferguson, Missouri, Officer Darren Wilson in the shooting death of 18-year-old Michael Brown on Aug. 9.

Police arrested 43 people on Monday, and said three officers were injured Tuesday night. The California Highway Patrol said on Tuesday that protestors were throwing bottles and rocks at officers.

About 300 to 400 protesters briefly blocked Interstate Highway 980 around 6:30 p.m., according to the CHP. By 7 p.m., protesters had shut down an off-ramp to Interstate Highway 880 at Broadway before the group snaked its way through West Oakland and marched up Telegraph Avenue.

Several protesters lit dumpsters on fire and the windows of businesses were smashed along the street. One group climbed over a fence and rushed onto the on-ramp to Interstate Highway 580 near 35th Street. Police quickly surrounded the group and ushered them off the freeway.

While some got away, others were arrested and several dozen protesters were cited. Police said the protesters were arrested for “a variety of crimes.”

CHP officials said one firearm was recovered while groups set fires and vandalized police cars. Josh Pollack, a property manager in Oakland, said it was the “craziest” protest he had ever seen.

Pollack said he saw police fire rubber bullets at protesters. Several flash grenades went off, but Pollack said he didn’t know whether they were thrown by protesters or the police.

At one point, protesters swarmed a police cruiser, but the officers, clad in riot gear, dispersed the crowd.

Late in the evening, officers wearing riot gear formed a line stretching across 55th Street and Martin Luther King Junior Way.

Sarah Norr, a protester from South Berkeley, said:

“I wanted to send a message that black lives matter, all lives matter. … I think people are really hopeful. I’m really proud of the East Bay.”