Protesters Chant 'We Can't Breathe,' As Looting Breaks Out In OC

ORANGE COUNTY, CA — Looting broke out in Santa Ana Saturday night following protests over police brutality in the wake of the George Floyd 's death. Looters broke into multiple stores including a Smart & Final, Auto Zone and Food 4 Less. Demonstrators also converged on the police station in Santa Ana, throwing objects and setting off fireworks.

Similar looting on a much larger scale spread across Los Angeles overtaking The Grove and Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, prompting Governor Gavin Newsom to declare a state of emergency over the unrest. The Nation Guard has been activated in Southern California to quell the violence.

At about 8 p.m. at McFadden Avenue and Bristol Street, the firework was thrown, said Santa Ana police Corporal Anthony Bertagna. Police used tear gas to push back the demonstrators, the Los Angeles Times reported.

The Orange County gatherings after the death of George Floyd were largely peaceful, with a few tense interactions between police and protesters.The largest gathering, Saturday, was in Santa Ana, where almost 200 people gathered.

Residents and officials were concerned for many Latino owned businesses which just have reopened after months of shutdown, due to the pandemic.

Organizers did not obtain a permit or agree to follow established rules for demonstrations, but police learned of the action in advance social media.

No injuries were reported, according to Bertagna.

In Fullerton, the demonstration began about 4 p.m. at the Fullerton Transportation Center at Harbor Boulevard and Walnut Avenue, according to Fullerton police Sgt. Eric Bridges.

According to social reports from those present, crowds gathered in the street bearing signs read "Who Polices The Police?" and "Black Lives Matter." Twitter user Carrie Kelly shared that the crowd gathered in the street and chanted "We can't breathe!"

Earlier today, downtown Fullerton images, in front of Police station at Commonwealth/Highland ... crowd in street chanting 'We can't breath'.
Officer on loudspeaker declares UNLAWFUL assembly and asked them to disperse. #orangecounty, California#GeorgeFloydprotest pic.twitter.com/jm2KXRukHX
— Carrie Kelly (@CarrieHKelly) May 31, 2020

After the rally, protesters marched to the Fullerton Police Department on West Commonwealth Ave., where they blocked Highland Avenue.

The protest was largely peaceful, until an unlawful assembly was declared.

The North Orange County SWAT team was called in and two people were arrested, Bridges said. One person was arrested on suspicion of failure to disperse and another was arrested for suspicion of vandalism and possession of a methamphetamine pipe.

The remaining 50 Fullerton area protesters returned to the transportation center, where the protest ended about 7 p.m., he said.

The protest was peaceful and no injuries were reported, Bridges said.

On Sunday, more protests were planned in Huntington Beach, Santa Ana and elsewhere, while officials are ready to maintain the peace.

City News Service contributed to this report.