Businesses Prepare For Night Of Protests In NorCal

OAKLAND, CA — Across California, protesters gathered Saturday to demonstrate against the Memorial Day death of George Floyd, in which a police officer is now accused of third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter.

In San Francisco's Mission District, thousands dropped to a knee in the streets Saturday night, while officers watched, ready but not interfering in the peaceful process. Thus far, no curfews were in place in San Francisco, or nearby Oakland, though businesses and police prepared for another night of protests and looting Saturday.

Oakland city leaders condemned violent protests that happened Friday night. Over 70 businesses were vandalized, looted or both.

Mayor Libby Schaaf told her city that violence and looting would not be tolerated, during a Saturday afternoon press conference. "Tonight we ask you to stay home."

Friday night's destruction was indiscriminate and crossed the line, Schaaf said.

Downtown merchants with "Black-Owned" business signs, small shops in the city's Chinatown District, as well as larger chain stores like Walgreens and Target, all suffered.

The protest over the death of George Floyd on Monday in Minneapolis at the hands of police drew an estimated 8,000 to Oakland. The event started out peacefully, the mayor said.

"Protest and free speech are part of Oakland's DNA," Schaaf said. "But these vandals, these violent actors are using peaceful protesters as a shield to hide behind."

Cars erupted in flames, rocks and Molotov cocktails thrown, storefronts shattered, and shelves looted at businesses trying to recover from three months of shelter-in-place orders.

"This horror was visited on this same community that we are trying to lift up," Schaaf said. Police arrested 17 people and detained another 40 during melees.

More arrests may come following investigations; a review of surveillance video may also identify some 40 to 60 looters, said Interim Police Chief Susan Manheimer.

Seventeen Oakland officers, two Oakland firefighters and seven officers from outside agencies were injured, the chief said.

Manheimer offered condolences to the families of two federal security officers shot while standing at the Oakland federal building. One of the officers has died, and the FBI is investigating, she said.

The chief promised a beefed-up law enforcement presence Saturday night and urged business owners who haven't done so already to register their video cameras on the department's website.

Jana and Chris Pastena, who own the Tribune Tavern and two other downtown restaurants, joined Schaaf in asking protesters to stay home.
"We ask that you please not riot and loot tonight," Jana Pastena said. Several windows were broken at the Tribune Tavern on 13th Street, and Chris Pastena was assaulted trying to fend off looters.

"This isn't about glass. I think we all know that black lives are greater than some broken glass," Jana Pastena said "I think we can be angry to our core about the death of Mr. Floyd and about the injustice black people suffer every day, and be incredibly angry about the destruction of our businesses."

She added that "from our observation, the people doing the damage weren't from our community," a sentiment aired by other business owners.
Thus far, police have not released the hometowns of those who were detained and arrested Friday night.

A national coalition of police unions that include three in the Bay Area, on Saturday condemned "criminal behavior disguised as protesting."

"We spoke out strongly to voice our utter disgust with what was done to George Floyd," the coalition said Saturday, referring to statements from the San Francisco, San Jose and Oakland Police Officers unions, along with the Los Angeles Police Protective League.

"George Floyd should be spending this weekend with his family and friends and enjoying his life. The fact that he's not is wrong, and it is a stain on our profession that we must all collectively work to wash away. But the violence and destruction in our cities and our neighborhoods is not the answer. It must stop," according to the coalition's statement on Saturday.

Gov. Gavin Newsom said the state is watching extremist groups who may be trying to exploit tensions.

"In California and across the country, there are indications that violent actors may be attempting to use these protests for their own agendas," the governor said release Saturday. "We are closely monitoring organizing by violent extremist organizations ahead of tonight."

Newsom said the death of a federal security guard gunned down Friday night in Oakland was "a moment of pain for our state and nation." But he added, "No one should rush to conflate this heinous act with the protests last night. A federal investigation is underway, and we should let that process play out."

BCN, Patch Editor Ashley Ludwig contributed to this report