Police: Protesters Shatter Windows, Graffiti Buildings in Sacramento

Protesters broke windows and left graffiti messages on walls and sidewalks in downtown Sacramento, California, on Thursday night.

More than 200 assembled in Cesar Chavez Plaza for a march organized by the group Official Sactivists, according to KCRA.

“People began gathering at the downtown Sacramento park for the rally and march around 8 p.m. Thursday. The event flyer told people to wear black and masks,” the report said, adding that many of the places vandalized were city, county, or state buildings.

At 10:22 p.m., the Sacramento Police Department tweeted that the march had concluded, but crowds were forming at Chavez Park:

The march has concluded. Another crowd of approx 150+ wearing all dark clothing, helmets, and body armor is forming at Chavez Park. The department has deployed additional police officers to monitor the crowd. pic.twitter.com/zMfM9aBu0R

— Sacramento Police (@SacPolice) August 28, 2020

At 11:00 p.m., KCRA reporter Stephanie Lin shared footage of the crowd and said a protester told her crew there would be “things you cannot film”:

Huge crowd leaving Cesar Chavez Plaza. Woman with megaphone in front has baseball bat in her backpack. One demonstrator said to us there will be “Things you cannot film.” pic.twitter.com/lDICHcdm04

— Stephanie Lin (@StephanieLinTV) August 28, 2020

A few minutes later, Lin shared a photo of a graffitied window:

Demonstrators headed down H. Just passed 9th. pic.twitter.com/YWD5wxZCKQ

— Stephanie Lin (@StephanieLinTV) August 28, 2020

She also tweeted video of the protesters from a distance and said, “You can see some demonstrators specifically assigned to keep media and cameras away”:

We are keeping our distance — you can see some demonstrators specifically assigned to keep media and cameras away. 8th and G pic.twitter.com/gaNBedHcIh

— Stephanie Lin (@StephanieLinTV) August 28, 2020

A few minutes before, reporter Eric Rucker tweeted video footage of broken glass at the sheriff’s department and graffiti on the sidewalk that read, “Fuck you. You’re here to serve us, not kill us”:

Protesters marching in the streets of Sacramento have vandalized many buildings including the sheriffs department on G St. ⁦@FOX40⁩ pic.twitter.com/klGSacTCYt

— Eric Rucker (@EricRuckerfox40) August 28, 2020

At 11:42 p.m., the police department said it received reports of protesters trying to light a fire at the district attorney’s office, but the fire had been extinguished.

Lin tweeted video footage of the building and said staff members would be “keeping an eye on how events unfold tonight to determine when to replace the windows”:

Another look at damage left behind by demonstrators tonight — this is the Sac DA’s office. Staff inside say they will be keeping an eye on how events unfold tonight to determine when to replace the windows. pic.twitter.com/e51WrrzBlc

— Stephanie Lin (@StephanieLinTV) August 28, 2020

Thursday’s protest was called Solidarity with Kenosha, in reference to the police-involved shooting of Jacob Blake on Sunday in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

Officers responded to a domestic incident and shot Blake in the back seven times when he walked away from them and tried to get into a vehicle, according to Breitbart News.

However, Blake later admitted to law enforcement he “had a knife in his possession,” the Wisconsin Department of Justice said in a statement.

Sacramento police said no arrests had been made once the crowd dispersed just after one a.m. on Friday.

“Detectives will be following up on reports of vandalism. Law enforcement presence will remain downtown throughout the night,” the department concluded.