State Capitol to close for Black Lives Matter rally

Demonstration planned for 6 p.m. Friday

Published 3:59 PM PDT Jul 08, 2016

Mike Luery/KCRA

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) —California guards are closing the Capitol early in expectation of a protest of police killings of black people one day after five police officers were killed at a similar rally in Dallas.

The demonstration planned for 6 p.m. Friday is one of many that affiliates of the Black Lives Matter movement organized after 12 officers were shot Thursday.

Police have since been targeted in Tennessee, Georgia and Missouri.

State Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de Leon's spokesman, Anthony Reyes, says California Highway Patrol and Sergeants at Arms decided to close the building at 4:30 p.m. instead of 6 p.m. due to the unpermitted protest.

Police were criticized last month for being ill prepared and slow to respond when white supremacists clashed with counter-protesters at a Capitol rally, injuring 10 people.

http://www.kcra.com/news/local-news/...rally/40426604