Minneapolis police dismantle Black Lives Matter protest camp outside precinct

Black Lives Matter protesters in Minneapolis are regrouping today after Minneapolis police officers told them to disband from a campsite outside of the 4th precinct office and bulldozed the site early this morning. The protesters have been there since the November 16 officer-involved death of Jamar Clark, who was killed after an altercation with police. According to the AP:

Officers in riot gear broke down an encampment early Thursday outside a Minneapolis police precinct where protesters have been demonstrating for nearly two weeks over the fatal shooting of a black man by police.

Officers told about 50 demonstrators outside the Fourth Precinct to disperse about 4 a.m. and began tearing down tents about 15 minutes later. City dump trucks carried away tents and supplies. Demonstrators headed by the local Black Lives Matter group have gathered at the site since the Nov. 16 death of 24-year-old Jamar Clark following a confrontation with police a day earlier.

Police spokesman Scott Seroka said there were a few arrests, but provided no details.

The Star Tribune reported police presented an eviction notice to protesters that said the department remains steadfast to its commitment to help facilitate demonstrations outside the Fourth Precinct. "It is a city building within city grounds and people have the right to peacefully demonstrate or protest," the notice said. But it said that neither structures nor fires will be allowed on city property and that access to the police station must remain open.

Minneapolis protesters have been active since Clark’s death, marching to shut down freeways and demand external investigations into the incident. Witnesses claim that Clark was handcuffed when he was shot, and the first calls for protests were by NAACP members who demanded the videos of the incident to be released to the public.