Oakland Investigators Trying To Track Down Vandals In Wake Of Zimmerman Ruling Protests
OAKLAND (KCBS)— More than 500 protesters marched city streets in Oakland Sunday for hours in a second night of protests after George Zimmerman's acquittal on charges of second degree murder in the shooting death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin.
Police gave protesters wide latitude and several officers grimaced when the center of 14th Street and Broadway were taken over by the crowd. Eventually the cops outnumbered the crowd, but only after an American flag went up in flames.
"Justice for Trayvon!" repeated Teresa Anderson with tears streaming down her face as she stood on the corner of 14th and Peralta. She said she was more fearful than angry at the acquittal of George Zimmerman.
"It's just really emotional for me because they could do any little black kid anywhere like that," Anderson said.
Oakland Mayor Denounces Vandalism As Protests Of Zimmerman Verdict Continue
Eventually police made an announcement, warning the crowd to move to 250 Frank Ogawa Plaza because they were going to open north and southbound traffic lanes.
While there was no repeat of the scores of broken windows in the hours after the verdict was announced on Saturday night, Oakland Mayor Jean Quan said the city is tired of protesters who resort to vandalism in the city.
Police are reviewing video in an effort to arrest those who are responsible for breaking storefront and restaurant windows.
"When you break the windows of restaurants, you're really hurting the economy and you're hurting the jobs that are being created in the city," said Mayor Quan, who added it also makes the city unsafe.
She said the protests have made them take officers off the case of a missing 21-month-old that has been ongoing since last week. The FBI was called in to help investigate.
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