Last week’s police shootings of two black men in separate incidents – Alton Sterling and Philando Castile – triggered protests, which turned violent in Dallas, Texas, where five police officers were shot dead.
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Riot police in full gear stopped a group of protesters in Baton Rouge late Sunday in their attempt to walk onto Interstate 110 in Baton Rouge, thwarting a protest tactic that social justice activists have increasingly tried in several US cities.
Baton Rouge’s top prosecutor says his office hasn’t made any decisions on charges against protesters who were arrested over the weekend in demonstrations against killings by police.
Intense, and sometime violent clashes erupted in several major cities.
Over the past 48 hours in Baton Rouge, La., where the fatal shooting of Alton Sterling by police officers last week has reignited a national conversation on race and policing, over 120 protesters have been arrested – including prominent Black Lives Matter activist DeRay McKesson.
In Dallas, the community continues to mourn the loss of five police officers who were ambushed and killed on Thursday night. His visit to the grief-stricken city comes at the invitation of Dallas Mayor Rawlings, the White House announced Sunday.
When stopped by police, he insisted that he was entitled to openly carry his gun in the state.
Coppola wrote in an email that one officer lost teeth to a projectile thrown outside police headquarters.
Police scuffle with a demonstrator as they try to apprehend him during a rally in Baton Rouge, Louisiana U.S. July 10, 2016. In the other half, a peaceful protestor stands calmly, her dress blowing about her feet.
Dozens of people were reported to have been arrested and at least two firearms confiscated. McKesson was reportedly streaming live on social media when he was arrested.
Over 100 protesters were arrested during the Saturday protest, most for obstructing the road.
New Orleans Public Radio said one of their reporters was arrested, although they did not have much more information. “At the same time we’re not going to tolerate any violence, we’re not going to tolerate any lawlessness, we’re not going to tolerate any destruction of property”.
During a confrontation Sunday evening near an interstate ramp, a police officer in an armored vehicle had warned protesters over a loudspeaker that they would be arrested if they didn’t leave the area. To me it seemed like: ‘You’re going to have to come and get me, ‘ ” Bachman told The Atlantic.
Police believe the secondary protest was initiated by out-of-state groups.
About 130 people have reportedly been taken to jail since protests begun. Salamoni’s parents have both worked for Baton Rouge police, and Moore says they’ve interacted directly and worked on hundreds of cases in common.
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The funeral for a Louisiana black man fatally shot by police will be held Friday in Baton Rouge.
