Oakland police declare unlawful assembly after ‘agitators’ set fire at courthouse, vandalize police station

Oakland, Calif. police declared a Saturday protest an unlawful assembly after “agitators” set fire to a courthouse and vandalized a police station.

The Oakland Police Department declared a demonstration that gathered about 700 people total as an “unlawful assembly” shortly after 11:30 p.m. local time. 

We are declaring an unlawful assembly at the corner of 7th and Broadway. Asking the crowd to disperse. pic.twitter.com/eHxayhwhOL

— Oakland Police Dept. (@oaklandpoliceca) July 26, 2020

The “unlawful assembly” designation came after some protesters set fire to the Alameda County Superior Courthouse, and others broke windows and spray painted a police station, the police department tweeted. Oakland police also said demonstrators were shooting fireworks and pointing lasers at officers and helicopters. 

Police said multiple small fires were set, and several people were arrested. 

Agitators within the crowd of demonstrators have set the Alameda County Superior Courthouse on fire. Please avoid the area. We are calling for peace and to have safe spaces and safe places for tonight’s demonstration. #WallofMoms pic.twitter.com/qYIcUONlgh

— Oakland Police Dept. (@oaklandpoliceca) July 26, 2020

Before declaring the gathering unlawful, police had used Twitter to ask organizers and demonstrators “to keep the protest peaceful.” Officers also reported protesters were aiming racial slurs at residents.

“We are calling for peace and to have safe spaces and safe places for tonight’s demonstration,” the police department tweeted. 

Some within the crowd of 100s of demonstrators vandalized the police station. Breaking windows, spray painting, shooting fireworks and pointing lasers at officers and helicopters. We ask for organizers to keep the protest peaceful. #WallofMoms pic.twitter.com/SGU6Y7PULg

— Oakland Police Dept. (@oaklandpoliceca) July 26, 2020

The department shared videos of a person knocking over a barricade by the police station and a sign warning that chemicals were going to be deployed.

This video shows a person knocking down the barricades in front of Police Headquarters after officers called for an unlawful assembly and asked the crowd to disperse. pic.twitter.com/08S5b7IDLo

— Oakland Police Dept. (@oaklandpoliceca) July 26, 2020

We continue to ask the crowd to disperse because of an unlawful assembly. Some in the crowd are throwing projectiles and pointing illegal lasers at officers. We are using signs and giving vocal commands to the crowd if the assaults continue chemicals will be deployed. pic.twitter.com/Un1Ndrs0AQ

— Oakland Police Dept. (@oaklandpoliceca) July 26, 2020

The protests stretched several blocks, with marchers standing in solidarity with Portland, Ore. demonstrators and Black Lives Matter, CBS SF BayArea reported.  The police station was also covered in graffiti, according to the news outlet. 

Several cities broke out in protests after federal authorities were sent to quell demonstrations in Portland that have continued since the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis police custody. Federal law enforcement have reportedly used tear gas on and detained protesters. 

On Saturday, protesters in Portland continued to clash with law enforcement in front of a federal courthouse. The Portland Police Department declared a riot in the city early Sunday after several demonstrators knocked down fencing outside the Mark O. Hatfield Federal Courthouse. 

President Trump said last week he plans to send federal authorities to Chicago and other U.S. cities to combat the protests.