Small crowd protesting police brutality gathers at Oakland City Hall
OAKLAND, Calif. (KGO) -- Protests against police brutality were held on both sides of the bay. Activists hit the streets Friday night to demand justice for black men killed by officers this week.
Compared to Thursday night, Friday's gathering was a small peaceful protest vigil with many calling for an end to police brutality.
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Protesters, angry about recent police killings of black men in Minnesota and Louisiana, held signs at Frank Ogawa Plaza. There was no mention of the killings of five police officers in Dallas. Some say they continue to feel disenfranchised and racially profiled.
"All we've been trying to be since we got free was to be was equal but we're not," said protester Jamal Davis. "Yes, we can drink the same water fountains, but we can't even go to the fountains in Piedmont, there's an invisible line."
Oakland police officers were there Friday night, they but kept their distance.
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The scene on I-880 Thursday night was gridlock as 1,000 protesters, angry over two more police shootings in Minnesota and Louisiana, branched off from another thousand protesters on city streets and took over the freeway, refusing to leave.
The freeway was closed for five hours. When asked if it's going to happen again Friday night, CHP Officer Henry Schultz said, "No. Well, that is not our plan to happen."
The CHP says they were caught off guard and had to bring in support from outside the Oakland area. They made two arrests. On Friday night they have more officers on standby.
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In Oakland, there were five arrests for smashed windows and people throwing bottles at officers.
Red paint was smeared on the broken door to the administration building with anti-police graffiti.
"We still have a couple of identifications to make and will be using social media tools to make that identification so we anticipate more arrests," said OPD Officer Johnna Watson.
Oakland police have been ordered to ride paired up in patrol cars, not solo after the shooting in Dallas.
"Officers are feeling more stressed," said Schultz. "They're more on edge."
Oakland's mayor issued a conciliatory statement urging people to vent their frustration over police shootings in video testimonials saying, "We can give public voice to the private pain so many are feeling right now and gather the community's feedback using #BlackLivesMatter and OakVoices "
Click here for full coverage on recent police shootings.
