Berkeley police fire tear gas, rubber bullets as protest turns violent
- 9 years ago
Protesters in Berkeley, California clash with police Saturday night … smashing store windows and hurling items at the officers.
Police respond with tear gas and rubber bullets.
The unrest forced the local Rapid Transit station to shut down.
SOUNDBITE: UNIDENTIFIED WITNESS SAYING:
"They threw crates at it, just braking it, they were people with mostly covered faces of course. And then people started walking up and taking some of the bottles."
It started as a peaceful protest over recent police shootings of African Americans and the decision by grand juries not to indict the officers involved.
But it turned violent when a small number of protesters started acting out.
One officer hit by a sandbag suffered a dislocated shoulder.
Police vehicles and private cars were vandalized, and police say at least two other businesses were looted.
No figures were immediately available on arrests.
SOUNDBITE: UNIDENTIFIED WITNESS SAYING:
Police respond with tear gas and rubber bullets.
The unrest forced the local Rapid Transit station to shut down.
SOUNDBITE: UNIDENTIFIED WITNESS SAYING:
"They threw crates at it, just braking it, they were people with mostly covered faces of course. And then people started walking up and taking some of the bottles."
It started as a peaceful protest over recent police shootings of African Americans and the decision by grand juries not to indict the officers involved.
But it turned violent when a small number of protesters started acting out.
One officer hit by a sandbag suffered a dislocated shoulder.
Police vehicles and private cars were vandalized, and police say at least two other businesses were looted.
No figures were immediately available on arrests.
SOUNDBITE: UNIDENTIFIED WITNESS SAYING: