After calm protests in Oakland, smaller group turns violent

Businesses in downtown Oakland were cleaning up after May Day demonstrations turned violent and a small band of protesters smashed storefront windows and damaged cars.

Police say they arrested a dozen people on charges including burglary, failing to disperse and vandalism.

One injury was reported – a police officer suffered a cut leg.

The violence Friday followed a day of peaceful protests outside Oakland City Hall that decried racism, police brutality and income inequality.

Police attributed the violence to a group of several hundred people they described as habitual troublemakers not connected with the larger, peaceful protests.

Mayor Libby Schaaf says those involved in the violence came “with rocks in their pockets and malice in their hearts.”

Damage, including graffiti and broken windows, was spread over about a dozen blocks.