OAKLAND (KRON) — The city of Oakland is bracing for more protests in response to its new get-tough police on nighttime demonstrations.
City officials recently announced that the city would be cracking down on nighttime marches in an effort to prevent violence and vandalism.
Activist are saying that the new policy is unconstitutional and they are vowing for fight for their rights. It’s not just activists saying that, Rachel Lederman of the National Lawyers Guild is also unhappy with the new policy, saying “what the mayor has told the police to do violates the crowd control policy, which we worked with them on, and which OPD and the city have agreed to.”
Oakland’s Mayor Libby Schaff says this new approach to crowd control requires demonstrators get a permit if they want to demonstrate on the city’s roadways after dark.
This decision comes after the city was criticized for its “hands off” approach during many of the protests during the fall and winter.
During this weekend’s protests, protestors were kept to public places and sidewalks. The people who ventured onto the street after nightfall were arrested or cited.
There were no reports of vandalism during this weekend’s protests.