2014 Oakland riots explained

2014 Oakland Riots
Partof:	the shooting of Michael Brown
Date:	November 24-December 10, 2014 (2 weeks, 3 days)
Causes:	Grand Jury decision not to charge Darren Wilson in death of Michael Brown, Grand Jury Decision in New York not to charge officer in death of Eric Garner
Methods:	Protests,^[1] Widespread Rioting,^[2] Vandalism,^[3] ^[4] Arson,^[5] ^[6] Looting,^[7] Black Bloc^[8]
Side1:	Oakland Police Department^[9] Berkeley Police Department California Highway Patrol^[10] San Francisco Police Department
Side2:	Black Lives Matter Local protesters Anarchists
Arrests:	350+
Injuries:	5+

The 2014 Oakland riots were a series of riots and civil disturbances that took place in Oakland, California and surrounding areas in November and December 2014. On November 24, 2014, following the decision of a Grand Jury in St. Louis to not charge Darren Wilson in the shooting death of black teenager Michael Brown, protests and rioting broke out in Oakland and later spread to other Bay Area cities.^[11] For more than two weeks, the Bay Area was the site of civil unrest as protesters clashed with police and damaged public and private property.

Timeline of riots

• November 24: In Ferguson, Missouri, a Grand Jury decided not to charge officer Darren Wilson in the fatal shooting of Michael Brown, an unarmed young African-American man. The decision sparked outrage in Ferguson, and rioting rocked the city throughout the night as stores were looted, and cars and buildings were set on fire.^[12] In Oakland, hundreds of protesters gathered in downtown to march for Michael Brown. The protesters eventually blocked Interstate 580.^[13] The crowd marched back downtown, and as the night wore on became violent. Several stores, and a police car were vandalized, and burning barricades were erected on city streets.^{[14] [15]} Later that night, some stores were looted including a Smart and Finals grocery store.^[16]
• November 25: Protesters returned to the streets of Oakland the following night, blocking various roads, looting businesses and setting up burning barricades again.^[17] 92 individuals were arrested that night.
• November 28: Protesters numbering over 1000 gathered in Union Square in San Francisco on Black Friday to continue protesting the Ferguson decision. While originally peaceful, the protests turned ugly as demonstrators hurled objects at police, smashed windows, and attempted to set a news van on fire in downtown.^[18] more than 50 people were arrested and two officers suffered injuries from flying objects. Due to violence, BART shut down transportation between the 16th street and 24th street stations, and protests continued until around 10:00 PM.^[19]
• December 3: A Grand Jury in New York declined to indict officers in the death of Eric Garner. In San Francisco, demonstrators closed off streets in downtown. In nearby Oakland, a peaceful march was held against the New York decision.^[20]
• December 6: Protests continued in Oakland, now reignited by the decision in the Eric Garner case. A march in Berkeley turned violent as masked protesters clashed with police and shattered windows.^[21] Police issued numerous warnings to disperse before using tear gas and rubber bullets on the demonstrators, and clashes continued until 3:00 in the morning^[22]
• December 7: Protesters gathered in Berkeley again, and marched toward North Oakland, and were confronted by police in riot gear. Tear gas and rubber bullets were once again used and the protesters returned to downtown Berkeley, which was the site of rioting, vandalism, and looting. Numerous buildings including Berkeley City Hall, a McDonald's, Citibank, and a Walgreens suffered damage to windows, and numerous fires were set in the street.^[23]
• December 8: Demonstrators blocked Interstate 80 in Berkeley for hours, eventually clashing with police, throwing rocks and bottles before being pushed out.^[24]
• December 9: Protesters marched again through Berkeley, and clashed with police in riot gear, while also setting fires and looting a Pak and Save Grocery store, CVS and 7-Eleven.^[25]
• December 10: Two undercover CHP officers were discovered in a protest in Oakland and assaulted, with the one officer sustaining a blow to the head. His partner was forced to pull his service pistol while the injured officer arrested his assailant.^{[26] [27]}
• December 15: Peaceful protesters blockaded Oakland Police Department headquarters for more than four hours, representing the four hours Michael Brown lay dead in the street, but unlike previous protests there was no property destruction or clashes.^[28]

Reactions

Reactions to the protests were mixed. Some in the public supported the protests while still condemning the violence. However, others were more angry over the destruction. Storeowner Edwin Cabrillo scuffled with protesters using a broom as he tried to protect his wine store from being vandalized. "I put my whole life into this shop," he said. "This is what makes Oakland worse.".^[29]

See also

• List of incidents of civil unrest in the United States

Notes and References

1. Web site: Van . Mara . For black students at UC Berkeley, protests are about Ferguson - and their own lives — Berkeleyside . Berkeleyside.com . 2017-03-07.
2. Web site: Fairbanks. Cassandra . Full Video of Viral Vine of Demonstrators in SF Clashing with Police . Thefreethoughtproject.com . 2014-11-30 . 2017-03-07.
3. Web site: Aleaziz . Hamed . North Oakland cleans up from riot night: 'It makes no sense’ . . 2014-11-26 . 2017-03-07.
4. Web site: Black Friday Protest Over Ferguson Decision Turns Ugly, Clashes In Union Square, Mission District « CBS San Francisco . Sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com . 2014-11-28 . 2017-03-07.
5. Web site: Oakland Protests Over Ferguson Decision Cause Havoc . The Huffington Post . 2014-11-25 . 2017-03-07.
6. Web site: Ho . Vivian . Oakland protests over Ferguson decision turn violent . . 2014-11-26 . 2017-03-07.
7. Web site: Oakland Reacts: Aftermath of Protests Over Michael Brown Killing | News Fix | KQED News . 2.kqed.org . 2014-11-26 . 2017-03-07.
8. Web site: Johnson . Chip . Violent protesters don’t care about Brown, Garner . . 2014-12-08 . 2017-03-07.
9. Web site: Aleaziz . Hamed . Dozens arrested in Oakland protest — vandalized stores clean up . . 2014-11-25 . 2017-04-18.
10. Web site: Violence erupts at Berkeley protest for second straight night . . 2014-12-08 . 2017-04-18.
11. Web site: Oakland Crowds Protest Grand Jury Decision In Ferguson Shooting, Arrests Made « CBS San Francisco . Sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com . 2014-11-24 . 2017-03-07.
12. Web site: Rioting breaks out in Ferguson after grand jury clears Darren Wilson . . 2017-04-18.
13. Web site: More than 40 arrested in Oakland as protesters block freeway, set fires after Ferguson cop not indicted – The Mercury News . Mercurynews.com . 2017-04-18.
14. Web site: Oakland reacts to grand jury decision in Ferguson shooting with protests, freeway shutdown . Oakland North . 2017-04-18.
15. Web site: Oakland Crowds Protest Grand Jury Decision In Ferguson Shooting, Arrests Made « CBS San Francisco . Sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com . 2014-11-24 . 2017-04-18.
16. Web site: Ho . Vivian . Late-night looters trash Oakland stores . . 2014-11-25 . 2017-04-18.
17. Web site: Ferguson protest: 92 arrests in Oakland during 2nd night of looting, vandalism – The Mercury News . Mercurynews.com . 2017-04-18.
18. Web site: Black Friday Protest Over Ferguson Decision Turns Ugly, Clashes In Union Square, Mission District « CBS San Francisco . Sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com . 2014-11-28 . 2017-04-18.
19. Web site: Ferguson protesters march through San Francisco's Union Square . Abc7news.com . 2014-11-29 . 2017-04-18.
20. Web site: Ho . Vivian . Oakland, S.F. protesters denounce police killing of Eric Garner . . 2014-12-03 . 2017-04-18.
21. Web site: Siciliano . Leon . Video: Watch: 'Chokehold death' protests turn violent in Berkeley and Oakland . https://web.archive.org/web/20141209125017/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/11279077/Watch-Chokehold-death-protests-turn-violent-in-Berkeley-and-Oakland.html . dead . 2014-12-09 . Telegraph . 2014-12-08 . 2017-04-18.
22. Web site: Lau . Jessie . Police fire tear gas at hundreds of protesters, demonstration disperses at about 3 a.m. | The Daily Californian . Dailycal.org . 2014-12-07 . 2017-04-18.
23. Web site: Protesters take to streets of Berkeley for second night running: Violence, vandalism of local businesses, looting — Berkeleyside . Berkeleyside.com . 2017-04-18.
24. Web site: Anthony . Laura . Protesters block traffic for hours on I-80 in Berkeley, Downtown Berkeley BART station closed . Abc7news.com . 2017-04-18.
25. Web site: Jones . Carolyn . East Bay protesters block Highway 24, light trash fires . . 2014-12-10 . 2017-04-18.
26. Web site: Ho . Vivian . Undercover CHP officer pulls gun at Oakland protest after outing . . 2014-12-11 . 2017-04-18.
27. Web site: Jessica Glenza . Undercover officer pulls gun on Oakland protesters after cover blown | US news . The Guardian . 2017-04-18.
28. Web site: Fernandez . Lisa . "Black Lives Matter" Groups Block Oakland Police Headquarters, More Than 20 Arrested . NBC Bay Area . 2014-12-15 . 2017-04-18.
29. Web site: Protesters shutdown I-880, West Oakland BART station for third night over Eric Garner case . Abc7news.com . 2017-04-18.