Protesters marched through Oakland streets after sunset Saturday in defiance of Mayor Libby Schaaf’s policy of shutting down unlawful assemblies at night in her effort to protect businesses from protest-related violence and vandalism.
Unlike a demonstration earlier in the week, police did not order the marchers to get off the streets and stay on sidewalks but instead allowed them to walk a few blocks from City Hall to their destination, the Oakland police headquarters.
Police closely monitored the demonstrators’ moves and repeatedly warned them via loudspeaker that no destruction of property would be tolerated. Having reached their destination, some protesters left and the remaining group began heading to Jack London Square. But around 9 p.m., police declared the gathering an unlawful assembly and threatened arrests. The remaining demonstrators, fewer than 50, refused to budge and sat in the middle of Washington Street, between 3rd and 4th streets. At about 10 p.m., after multiple warnings, police swept through the group, detaining several dozen protesters.
