Posted on 07/14/2010 6:10:25 PM PDT by SmithL
OAKLAND --
Nonviolent demonstrators were roughed up by police during last week's protest in downtown Oakland over the involuntary-manslaughter conviction of a former BART police officer in the fatal shooting of an unarmed rider, civil rights attorneys said Wednesday.
Some of those who clashed with law-enforcement officers were among the 78 people arrested July 8 during a protest in which downtown businesses were looted, had their windows broken or were damaged by anti-police graffiti, authorities said.
But Carlos Villarreal, executive director of the San Francisco Bay Area chapter of the National Lawyers Guild, said officers had attacked people who did not engage in the rioting that broke out after a peaceful protest at 14th Street and Broadway.
Among those victimized by police were disabled and elderly people, attorneys monitoring the protest and other observers, Villarreal said.
"They assaulted nonviolent protesters and generally acted unprofessionally and carelessly," Villarreal said at a news conference at the same corner where the protest degenerated into rioting.
Officer Holly Joshi, a police spokeswoman, said officers had issued lawful orders to disperse and that those who had failed to obey were arrested. The department has only received one complaint of excessive force, she said.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
Manhandled? Maybe in her dreams.
The poor victim-Americans.
Green hats.
I’m sobbing here.
The sit-in hippies of decades ago would be ashamed how soft protesters have gotten.
Hey, hope for a payoff from the city and spend it all at the local marijuana dispensary.
These professional whiners wouldn’t have been happy with a public execution!
O Town can’t catch a break.
Found this little gem...
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