Politics & Government
Anti-Trump Protesters Set Fires, Vandalize Businesses, Block Traffic in Oakland
Another protest is planned for this evening at 5 p.m. (Breaking)
OAKLAND, CA — Oakland police are assessing vandalism on several businesses Wednesday morning after about 250 protesters marched through downtown in a protest over the election of Republican candidate Donald Trump as U.S. president.
One protester was cited. Police previously said that they had arrested a small number of protesters for vandalism and disobedience.
At about 11:45 p.m., a group of demonstrators gathered at 14th Street and Broadway and marched downtown. At about 12:20 a.m., the group walked onto eastbound state Highway 24 between Telegraph and Claremont
avenues.
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As the protesters walked into traffic, a woman was hit in the second lane by a Honda Element, California Highway Patrol officers said.
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The driver pulled over on the right-hand shoulder, but protesters turned on her and vandalized her car, breaking the back window, CHP officers said.
Arriving officers stabilized the group. The woman who was hit was taken to a hospital with major injuries. No other injuries related to the protest have been reported.
"Although we respect the public's right to protest, we continue to stress the fact that the freeway is not a safe or legal place to conduct a demonstration," CHP officers said in a statement.
The 12th Street Oakland City Center BART station closed because of the protest, BART officials reported at 12:18 a.m. The station was open and operating normally again at the start of service this morning.
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Police officers responded to the scene in riot gear, including helmets, gas masks and long batons.
Several fires were set between 10th and 27th streets on Telegraph Avenue and Broadway. Four engine companies from the Oakland Fire Department responded to extinguish the fires, a battalion chief said.
The protest largely died down as many protesters left the area around 3 a.m.
The protest planned for Wednesday evening at 5 p.m. has prompted the postponement of the Oakland Unified School District board meeting.
— Bay City News; Image via Shutterstock
