Protests over the in-custody death of George Floyd have taken place across the San Francisco Bay Area. Many cities are under curfew due to widespread looting and vandalism. Here are the latest updates.
SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) — Protests over the in-custody death of George Floyd have taken place across the San Francisco Bay Area. Many cities are under curfew due to widespread looting and vandalism. Here are the latest updates from around the region and across California and the U. S. A large group of demonstrators are marching in Fremont Thursday evening. The protest began at Washington High School. The group is now marching down the street. Watch the live video above from SKY7. In a press conference held by San Jose Mayor Liccardo and Police Chief Eddie Garcia, the city largely defended its police officers’ response to «agitators» present at otherwise peaceful protests. Chief Garcia mounted a spirited defense of his officers’ response to what he called «an insurrection of pre-planned violence» and «the likes of which I have not seen in my time wearing this uniform.»Read the full story and hear his comments here The Alameda County Sheriff’s Department lifted its curfew, effective immediately, on Thursday, June 4. It had been in effect since Monday, June 1. Some cities in Alameda County still have curfews in place, and those still apply despite the change at the county-level. San Francisco, San Jose and Solano County have lifted nightly curfews. Check here for a list of Bay Area cities and counties impacted by curfews Several protests and demonstrations and rallies are planned in the Bay Area today — including in South San Francisco at 11 a.m.,4:30 p.m. in Fremont, and 5 p.m. in Mountain View. Attorneys in the Bay Area are reacting to the now second-degree murder charge against former officer Derek Chauvin for the death of George Floyd. Jim Hammer is a former prosecutor in the Bay Area. He was also a police commissioner and he says that those rallying for justice should feel confident about a second-degree murder charge. «For anyone who thinks that’s not enough, it carries 40 years in prison,» says Chauvin who went on to say, «based on what we see, and we see a hell of a lot, it’s not a secret what happened. It just screams out to me at a murder case. Not a first-degree murder. It’s not premeditated. From what I can see, it’s not one of these specified felonies. It’s a solid second-degree murder case just as if someone said I’m gonna kill him.» Fortyyears in jail for Chauvin could basically be a life sentence because of his age. Hammer says going for a first-degree charge could ruin the case if you don’t have enough to convict. He also says it is often very challenging to convict police officers. SKY7 was over a group of protesters that were surrounded by SFPD officers Wednesday night. Police could be seen taking several people into custody. SKY7 over a protest at Oscar Grant Plaza in Oakland. SKY7 was over the Mission district where thousands marched following a peaceful rally at Mission High School. A massive crowd gathers for a peaceful protest at San Francisco’s Mission High School. Thousands of families, students and activists are expected to be at the youth-led rally. Golden State Warriors’ Juan Toscano Anderson is leading his Walking in Unity event in Oakland. Star Stephen Curry and his family joined protesters for a peaceful march around Lake Merritt. Fellow Splash Brother Klay Thompson was also spotted at the peaceful demonstration. The Alameda County Sheriff’s Office says 34 people were booked into the Santa Rita Jail Tuesday. «Of that total,30 felony crimes charged to include robbery, burglary, stolen vehicles, pursuits, weapons, vandalism and misdemeanor crimes. Nine of the arrests were for curfew violations. Seven people were from other counties,» the agency said on Twitter Three other former Minnesota police officers have been charged in the death of George Floyd, court records show. The charges against former Minnesota police officer Derek Chauvin have been increased to second-degree murder, court records show. Mayor London Breed announced the city would lift its curfew starting Thursday, June 4. The curfew was first implemented on May 31.»The protests we have seen in this city and across the country are for an important cause and our city will continue to facilitate any and all peaceful demonstrations,» Breed said on Twitter. «Following Saturday night, it was important for the safety of our residents to ensure that we could prevent the violence and vandalism that had taken place, but we know that the overwhelming majority of people out protesting are doing so peacefully and we trust that will continue.»Today at 1 p.m., San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo and several community leaders will hold a moment of silence for 8 minutes and 46 seconds, the amount of time George Floyd was pinned to the ground by Minneapolis police, in tribute for all Black victims and communities of color who have been targeted, stereotyped, and oppressed. At least four more protests are planned for today in the Bay Area over the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis last week. In East Palo Alto, a Black Live Matter peaceful protest is set for noon. Organizers are planning to march from Jack Farrell Park to Bell Street Park. In San Francisco, a demonstration will get underway at Mission High School. Organizers say they will march from the school to the SFPD Mission Station at four p.
