Oakland business owners applaud city's nighttime protest policy

OAKLAND, Calif. (KGO) -- Business owners in Oakland applaud the city's tough new stance on nighttime demonstrations, but demonstrators who spent two peaceful nights in the streets over the weekend are outraged.

Demonstrators are planning to gather again Monday night.

During a press conference, Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf said this isn't a new policy, but simply a new tactic or rules that are already in the books.

At least 19 people were cited and four people were arrested under the new strategy during a demonstration Sunday night. "After dark, people should not be on our roadways without a permit. They still can gather in public spaces, march on sidewalks, those are all permissible," Schaaf said.

Officials said the demonstration follows a similar protest on Saturday in which five people were arrested and 47 people were issued citations.

Schaaf is under pressure by business leaders in the city who are still trying to repair damage caused by protestors on May Day earlier this month.

Last week, smog shop owner Brian Amble painted a sign on boards that are still covering his damaged windows. He says something has to be done about the destruction during some protests. "I think people should have as loud a voice as they feel like projecting, but speech is not destroying things, it's not setting cars on fire, that's not speech," he said.

For those involved in this weekend's protests, this new strategy is unacceptable.

Video captured Oakland Planning Commissioner Jahmese Myres being arrested Saturday night. "I can appreciate the mayor's desire to stop vandalism in our city, but I don't think limiting the rights of our residents and our constitutional rights to speak out against injustice is the path," she said.

Organizers say they will continue to stage protests, despite the mayor's new tactic because of recent vandalism. "It doesn't make sense, if you're protesting city strategy to go ask the city permission to protest against it," Cat Brooks said.

They also plan on challenging the new strategy in court.

In each of the demonstrations on Thursday, Saturday and Sunday, police said there were no reports of any vandalism or injuries.

Bay City News contributed to this story.