Berkeley Protests Turn Violent For Second Night
Protests in Berkeley, California turned violent for the second night Sunday as protesters clashed with police regarding the deaths of unarmed African Americans Eric Garner and Michael Brown.
Aerial footage from Sunday night's protests show residents smashing store windows, blocking traffic intersections and even marching onto freeway onramps as police attempted to subdue the crowd while wearing riot gear.
Police told NBC News that some protesters hurled objects, such as baseball-sized pieces of concrete, at authorities while others attempted to burn a police cruiser in a 500-person march from Berkeley to Oakland. Police reportedly attempted to use tear gas to subdue violent protesters.
"#CHP remain in area and continue to take thrown projectiles. Although some protestors may be peaceful, this is not a peaceful protest," the California Highway Patrol Golden Gate tweeted on Sunday evening at 10:56 p.m.
"The #BayArea is populated by millions of people. The violence and hate being committed tonight is an extremely small percentage of that," the CHP Golden Gate added in a second tweet.
According to USA Today, trashcans were also set afire by protesters and some storefronts in the college area of Berkeley had been vandalized. The Cal Students' Store had its windows broken and two local banks were also vandalized. The Missing Link Bicycle Co-Op on one of Berkeley's main street's was also vandalized, and witnesses reportedly said that many protesters attempted to help protect the store from further vandalism.
One Oakland resident, 26-year-old Meagan Day, told USA Today that she was marching with protesters on Shattuck Avenue to show an ""act of solidarity" and to "amplify the voices" of those who believe they are not receiving justice.
"I want to be another voice and another body," she said.