Trayvon Martin protests: Tweets in Oakland show violence firsthand

By Laura J. NelsonJuly 16, 2013, 4:00 a.m.

For the third consecutive night, a crowd of hundreds gathered Monday in downtown Oakland to protest George Zimmerman's acquittal in the shooting death of Florida teenager Trayvon Martin.

The protests grew violent, Oakland Police Department spokeswoman told The Times on Monday, as members of the crowd threw bottles and fireworks at police officers, smashed store windows and burned U.S. flags.

Police arrested at least six people, officials said, on a range of felony and misdemeanor charges.

A group of more than 100 protesters blocked traffic on Interstate 880 for about 15 minutes earlier Monday night, officials said. At least one person was escorted away in handcuffs.

On social media, protesters and reporters shared photographs and details about Monday night's demonstration.

#Trayvon #Oakland protesters leaving I880, traffic starting to move again pic.twitter.com/3WBRflRPmJ

— Josh Richman (@Josh_Richman) July 16, 2013
Fireworks exploding. Crowd of about 200 moves down Broadway.

Several arrest so far. #HoodiesUppic.twitter.com/gwh9GpWkh0
— Natalia Aldana (@naldana22) July 16, 2013
#Trayvon #Oakland march has returned to Broadway pic.twitter.com/n97wICZzf2

— Josh Richman (@Josh_Richman) July 16, 2013
Windows broken Men's Wearhouse, OPD rushes in, melee ensues #Trayvon #Oaklandpic.twitter.com/gUXqT1KiY4
— Josh Richman (@Josh_Richman) July 16, 2013
Fracas erupts between demonstrators and police after store window shattered @insidebayareahttp://t.co/n1f4WhbCG4

— Robert Salonga (@robertsalonga) July 16, 2013
Paramedics arrive to tend to waiter hit with hammer-like object by vandal outside Flora uptown Oakland @insidebay...
http://t.co/hDLfho5HHj

— Robert Salonga (@robertsalonga) July 16, 2013
Fireworks exploding. Crowd of about 200 moves down Broadway. Several arrest so far.#HoodiesUp pic.twitter.com/gwh9GpWkh0

— Natalia Aldana (@naldana22) July 16, 2013
"Revolt" on Broadway near Telegraph. #Oakland #Zimmerman protests.pic.twitter.com/qSJq2WpMcV

— KenWayne (@KenWayne) July 16, 2013
Other photographs and tweets showed evidence of damage done on previous nights.

A Surprising Response From @awakencafe To Having a Window Broken:pic.twitter.com/PgtXDEDfIT #JusticeForTrayvon #FB

— Harjit Singh Gill (@harjitsgill) July 16, 2013
Smashed windows at Sears on Telegraph Avenue in Oakland. pic.twitter.com/kYNCeMW4Qe

— John Alston (@JohnAlstonABC7) July 14, 2013
These protestors did some damage to downtown oakland ....

— Sefora Temesgen (@Seforatemesgen) July 15, 2013
Sears in downtown Oakland can't get a break. The Rodney Dangerfield of buildings to demonstrators smashing windows pic.twitter.com/NLUFJeioHl

— Beth Houston (@HoustonKGO) July 15, 2013

http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/l...,7042281.story