Over 600 people participated in largely peaceful protests Wednesday night against the police shooting of a Black man on Sunday in Kenosha, Wisconsin, Oakland police said. Things took a turn later when some within the crowd threw items and destroyed property.
The Oakland police asked the group via its Twitter account to stop setting fire to trash cans, pointing lasers and throwing object at officers, crossing barricades and lighting fireworks.
Oakland police tweeted at 9:45 p.m.:
“Agitators within the crowd attempted to set fire to a business on 8th and Broadway. Quick response by OPD Officers and @OaklandFireCA prevented further damage.”
BART closed its 19th Street station in downtown Oakland as city police tweeted photos of numerous fires set in downtown streets.
About 11 p.m. protesters walked down the Grand Avenue off-ramp from Interstate 580 after temporarily stopping freeway traffic, and then some embedded in the crowd continued throwing objects at police.
Shortly thereafter, Oakland police stated some people vandalized and set fire to the Alameda County Superior Court Rene C. Davidson Courthouse located at 1225 Fallon Street, near Lake Merritt.
According to Oakland police, numerous fire were set across Oakland’s downtown area, dozens of windows were broken, and multiple businesses were vandalized.
No officers were injured, and several people were arrested.
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