Activists throughout California held demonstrations Saturday in solidarity with Al Sharpton’s “Millions March” protest in Washington, D.C. The demonstrations were held to express outrage at the non-indictment of police officers in Ferguson, MO and Staten Island, NY who had killed unarmed black suspects in recent months. While most of the demonstrations were peaceful, there were dozens of arrests, as well as cases of vandalism and flag-burning.
In Oakland, a peaceful protest earlier in the afternoon involving thousands of marchers was followed by a night of violence, including a fresh outbreak of vandalism and looting, leading to 45 arrests. Some demonstrators also burned an American flag, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
*Extremely white voice* “MY FLAAAAAGGGGGGGG!!!” #FlagsDontMatter #BlackLivesMatter #Oakland #FTP pic.twitter.com/LvSIfZEhZ2
— Not Frantz Fanon (@violentfanon) December 14, 2014
At the University of California at Berkeley, an effigy of a lynched woman was hung from Sather Gate on Saturday, the Daily Californian reported–possibly placed there by a supporter of the demonstrations to evoke outrage. In San Francisco, a small group targeted the annual “SantaCon,” and police cordoned off Union Square to protect the Santas and the Christmas tree.
In Los Angeles, dozens marched down Hollywood Boulevard, according to reports by local CBS News affiliate KCAL-9 and the Los Angeles Times. They staged a “die-in” at the corner of Hollywood and Highland, where police recently shot a man armed with a knife, and burned an American flag. The demonstrators blocked traffic for a short time before police made several arrests. Another march targeted police headquarters downtown.
#NewsCD 4 arrested during Los Angeles protest against police violence – @LANow http://t.co/Cre0F44nUK #Foxnews #CNN pic.twitter.com/zz5og0Eytb
— David Avritt (@FollowDAvritt) December 14, 2014
In Sacramento, according to the local CBS News affiliate, roughly 150 peaceful protestors marched downtown in solidarity with the Millions March, chanting “Hands up, don’t shoot!” and blocking traffic briefly in the area. In San Diego, marchers blocked traffic at several intersections en route from Balboa Park to downtown, according to the local ABC News affiliate.
Demonstrations are expected to continue in California and across the nation.
Senior Editor-at-Large Joel B. Pollak edits Breitbart California and is the author of the new ebook, Wacko Birds: The Fall (and Rise) of the Tea Party, available for Amazon Kindle.
