Police said hundreds took part in “violent & destructive protests” Wednesday night in Oakland, California, over the shooting of Jacob Blake.
In a tweet just before 11:00 p.m., the Oakland Police Department (OPD) asked those attending the protest to “respect our community and local businesses by participating in peaceful demonstrations.”
However, the crowd began throwing objects and pointing lasers at officers not long after, the department wrote in a subsequent tweet:
We are asking agitators within the crowd to stop throwing items and pointing lasers at the officers at 7th & Washington. pic.twitter.com/SE73Al26k5
— Oakland Police Dept. (@oaklandpoliceca) August 27, 2020
Just after 12 a.m. on Thursday, rioters started breaking windows and setting fires.
“Some within the crowd are chanting ‘BURN IT DOWN’ as they ignite fireworks and set trash cans on fire,” the department wrote in another tweet. – READ MORE
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