Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf's home vandalized as threat of federal troops looms

ByLeslie Brinkley KGO logo
Tuesday, July 21, 2020
Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf's home vandalized overnight
Police are investigating an act of vandalism at Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf's house.

OAKLAND, Calif. (KGO) -- Police are investigating an act of vandalism at Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf's house.

"Defund OPD," "homes 4 all," and "blood on your hands" were all spray-painted on the garage, sidewalk and stone wall outside Mayor Schaaf's Oakland home overnight. Witnesses say 30 to 40 people dressed in black and wearing masks shot projectiles and set off fireworks around 2 a.m.

Neighbor Yakov Barton said, "I know there's a lot of unrest and frustration and I sympathize with that, but this was jarring and felt like to another level."

Harmeet Dhillon, Republican National Committeewoman, said "I think what it shows is that Libby Schaaf's policies are not really working for her city and I'm really sorry -- no American should be made to feel unsafe in their home. As a person, I feel sorry for her and, as a leader, I think she needs to do better."

This week, President Trump threatened to send federal troops into Oakland like he has in Portland.

The President declared, "Oakland is a mess. We are not going to let this happen in our country."

RELATED: Gov. Newsom, Mayor Schaaf reject Trump's offer to deploy federal officers in Oakland

President Trump suggested he'll send federal agents into cities like New York, Chicago and Oakland in response to protests across the country. California Governor Newsom and Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf were quick to reject Trump's offer.

Mayor Schaaf fired back, "I don't need law enforcement in Oakland. I need testing. I need personal protective equipment."

The National Lawyers Guild met to defend the mayor and the right to protest in the face of federal enforcement, saying sending in troops is unconstitutional.

Walter Riley, a civil rights attorney, said, "We haven't heard that this attack is coming to Oakland. We will stand with all the people that are under attack."

Leila Sayed-Taha, on the board of the National Lawyers Guild, added, "He is trying to silence them while also playing to his right wing base."

So the standoff continues. Mayor Schaaf issued a statement about the vandalism, saying she will not be intimidated. She said, "An attack at the home of a publicly elected official does not advance democracy."

See more stories and videos related to Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf here.

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