Protesters march in Oakland, demand justice in police shootings

About 50 Black Lives Matter protesters scrambled briefly onto a downtown Oakland freeway on Friday evening but a rapid response by police and Highway Patrol officers forced them to retreat before traffic could back up.

The small group, demonstrating against recent police killings in Louisiana and Minnesota, walked onto the westbound lanes of Interstate 980 around 6:15 p.m. but left the freeway after only a minute or two, when officers arrived.

The protesters then stood in front of the freeway on ramp at 17th and Brush streets, blocking access to the freeway while traffic on it continued to flow.

A Highway Patrol officer struck a male protester in the leg with a baton while the demonstrators were leaving the freeway, but he did not appear to be injured.

Throughout the demonstration, the small group chanted “Hands up, don’t shoot” and “No justice, no peace, no racist police” while officers looked on and passing motorists honked in support.