Oakland Mayor and Police Chief React to Continuing Protests Over Zimmerman Acquittal

Protests in Oakland turned violent last night in response to George Zimmerman’s acquittal in the killing of Trayvon Martin. About 100 people tussled with police, and at least two people were injured. Marchers blocked portions of Interstate 880 in the third day of protests in response to the verdict. Oakland Mayor Jean Quan and Oakland’s Interim Police Chief Sean Whent join us to discuss last night’s events.

Highlights from the Related Discussion on Twitter

@KQEDForum Oakland Mayor @JeanQuan & #OPD Chief Whent should have held #Oakland #Trayvon rally – not be on your radio show.

— Zennie Abraham (@zennie62) July 16, 2013

 

@jeanquan Oakland Mayor @JeanQuan & #OPD Chief Whent need to show they stand with the people – bad #Oakland leadership.

— Zennie Abraham (@zennie62) July 16, 2013

 

Alameda caller to @KQED calls Mayor @JeanQuan & city "indefensibly incompetent" for failing to plan ahead for protests

— Henry K. Lee (@henryklee) July 16, 2013

 

@henryklee @KQED @jeanquan Yeah, that pretty much nails it.

— Echa Schneider (@ionecha) July 16, 2013

 

@henryklee @EastBayPatch @KQED @jeanquan That's unfair… who could have possibly predicted that Oakland would protest over something?

— Sean Cusiter (@seaninsjca) July 16, 2013

 

@henryklee @AbleDart @KQED @jeanquan Why anyone has a business in downtown Oakland now, given this total incompetence, is beyond me.

— suldrew (@suldrew) July 16, 2013

 

@henryklee @KQED @jeanquan – Oakland of all places, they should have had a preparedness plan.

— JD Bennett (@JDBennett4AD31) July 16, 2013

 

@KQEDForum During Saturday night's protests: #OPD were dealing w/6 separate shootings. Legal settlements re: excessive force not the issue

— Ali Winston (@awinston) July 16, 2013

 

@HarryElephante @KQED And why not? Same type of damage, same masked thugs, same neighborhood, same targets. #OO redux. We saw it all before.

— Geissl (@rgeiss) July 16, 2013

 

FYI @KQEDForum: there have been more than $60 million in #OPD-related settlements in the past 10 years from "forceful" policing. #Oakland

— Joshua Daniels (@HarryElephante) July 16, 2013