Activism

Days of Protest Spark Mixed Reactions, Oaklanders Question Who Leads Destruction

Published

6 years ago

June 4, 2020

Thousands of people took to Oakland streets beginning May 29 for what was largely a peaceful protest against the death of George Floyd, a Black man in Minneapolis, Minn., who died after a white police officer knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes.

Oakland protester Taylor energizes a growing crowd as they chant “No Justice, No Peace,” at Frank Ogawa Plaza on May 29. Thousands marched in Oakland on Friday protesting the death of George Floyd and demanding an end to police brutality. Photo by Michelle Snider.

By 11:00 p.m. on the first night of protests in the Bay Area, Twitter was filled with videos of looting and fires in Downtown Oakland. Walgreens on Broadway was looted and there were reports of a small fire inside. CVS on Broadway was also looted and the city center Starbucks was set on fire.

A Honda CR-V was driven off the Honda of Oakland showroom in front of a large crowd, and the brand new Target store on Broadway was smashed up, looted and is now to be closed indefinitely.

On Twitter, some were outraged at the looting and highlighted that the protests were mostly peaceful. A Chamber of Commerce representative said on May 30 that “a small band of well-mobilized vandals” had once again targeted the city’s merchants and most vulnerable people.”

More of what happened at the start of the looting in Oakland last night. I was there throughout the night, same narrative, white people inciting the violence and break-ins. They did not come here to protest, they did not come here for us. #OaklandProtest #GeorgeFloyd #BLM pic.twitter.com/wuXSOmF3gj
— peanut butter cup (@deshawnieboy) May 30, 2020

“We will not let out-of-town individuals undermine this legitimate protest and destroy our local economy,” said Barbara Leslie, president and CEO of the Oakland Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce.

Most businesses targeted were corporations, but some Black-owned and smaller businesses were targeted as well, including Oakland shop Queen Hippe Gypsy, owned by Lillianna Ayers — a Black woman.

After nightfall on May 29, a crowd attempted to gain access to I-880, throwing water bottles at police officers and launching a flare that started a small grass fire. Others headed toward the Oakland Police Department (OPD) building on Broadway and took a knee as they were met with a line of police officers.

A crowd attempts to gain access to the 880 freeway. A flare was launched by the crowd and started a small grass fire. Photo by Saskia Hatvany.

OPD swiftly deemed the protest an “unlawful gathering” and allowed three minutes for protesters to disperse before launching tear-gas.

Meanwhile, several small groups split off and proceeded to break the windows of Chase and Wells Fargo banks and other businesses. Trash cans were dragged into the streets and some were set ablaze.

After midnight, two federal officers were shot while on guard at the Ronald V. Dellums Federal Building at 1301 Clay St. One of them, Dave Patrick Underwood, succumbed to his injuries and died.

The shooting was called an “an act of domestic terrorism,” by Department of Homeland Security Acting Deputy Sec. Ken Cuccinelli at a Wash., D.C., news conference.

But California Gov. Gavin Newsom warned that the shooting should not be quickly associated with the acts of peaceful protesters. “No one should rush to conflate this heinous act with the protests last night,” he said.

Protesters kneel peacefully in front of a line of Oakland Police on Monday, May 29. Police declared the protest an “unlawful assembly,” and allowed three minutes for people to disperse before unleashing tear gas. Photo by Michelle Snider.

The looting continued throughout the weekend in downtown Oakland, Emeryville and the Fruitvale area, leading local officials to impose a curfew from 8:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. on Monday. Several peaceful daytime protests also occurred, including a caravan of over 1,000 cars around Lake Merritt, and a march down Broadway on Monday from Oakland Technical High School at 42nd street that ended at the Oakland Police Department on Seventh street.

Approximately 15,000 people attended the Monday student-led rally and march, according to Oakland police who observed from a helicopter.

Saskia Hatvany

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Activism

Oakland Post: Week of September 2 – 8, 2026

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of September 2 – 8, 2026

Published

4 days ago

September 7, 2026

Oakland Post

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Activism

Youth-Led Black August Event Brings Past to Present at East Oakland Boxing Association

The mission of Youth Alive! Is to “break the cycle of violence, heal trauma, and uplift a thriving community of leaders, to save lives in Oakland and beyond” by serving “as mentors, youth leaders, counselors, case managers, intervention specialists and violence interrupters,” working “to help violently wounded people heal themselves and their community.”

Published

2 weeks ago

August 29, 2026

Post News Group

Dawna Williams, EOBA executive director speaks to attendees at the Black August Eperience on Aug. 21. Photo courtesy of Carolyn Flynn of EOBA.

By Jana Lang Propel Youth Reporter

Youth-Led Black August Event Brings Past to Present at East Oakland Boxing Association

The East Oakland Boxing Association (EOBA) and Youth Alive! came together on Aug. 21 to share with their community all that Black August means to them.

Held on EOBA’s patio at 816 98th Ave. in Deep East Oakland, the two organizations hosted their second annual Black August Experience, featuring a food tasting, financial literacy and mindfulness workshops, and voter registration with the League of Women Voters Oakland (LWV).

Black August is known as a time to uphold the legacy of prisoners who protested their conditions by fasting, fighting, and educating themselves on the economic and political circumstances that contributed to their incarceration.

According to its website, “EOBA is a multi-service youth and community development hub that goes far beyond the ring. While rooted in the discipline of boxing, for nearly 40 years EOBA has also integrated robust programs in workforce development, food justice, afterschool enrichment, financial literacy, mentorship, and wellness.”.

The mission of Youth Alive! Is to “break the cycle of violence, heal trauma, and uplift a thriving community of leaders, to save lives in Oakland and beyond” by serving “as mentors, youth leaders, counselors, case managers, intervention specialists and violence interrupters,” working “to help violently wounded people heal themselves and their community.”

Through Coro California, another leadership organization serving young people across the state for 80 years, they gained a broader understanding of Black August.

EOBA Executive Director Dawna Williams spoke about how much she learned about Black August from the youth who created it. “I let them educate me,” she said. Instead of talking about prison reform and mass incarceration, Williams and youth interns found that Black August meant so much more. “We would have done a disservice if we had just focused on who the people were and what their situation was…We tried to take their message from back in the day and make it relevant to the young people today. What do they need to know?”

Youth interns created and placed posters around the patio to help participants understand how traditional Black foodways, civic engagement, financial literacy, and the power of education are relevant to Black resistance today.

An EOBA member described Black August with Youth ALIVE! as “a whole vibe. “This year we added the Fun Zone for the kids, because you really cannot go wrong with a Fun Zone. I also loved seeing everyone chillin’ in the outdoor lounge, catching some Vitamin D and just enjoying a Friday evening together.”

The food tasting, a popular event from last year, featured traditional Black foods such as black-eyed peas, johnny cakes, and fried chicken. Led by Williams, the tasting included a talk about how these traditional foods were made and why they are forms of Black resilience.

The “‘Plate of History’ was a favorite of the online writers. “Fun, educational, and did I mention delicious? Our Taste of History cook, Angela Southall, served up some good eats while connecting food to history and culture.”

The writer also commended the “League of Women Voters Oakland for their civic leadership and for getting our young people informed, ready, and registered to vote.”

Overall, it was a “good Friday event in East Oakland,” the writer said.

Upcoming Black August events: Building Opportunities for Self-Sufficiency (BOSS), will host “Black August: The Arc of Liberation” at Oakland City Hall on Sat. Aug. 29, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The websites for East Oakland Boxing Association, Youth Alive! and CORO are sources for this report.

Jana Lang is an Oakland resident, teacher, gardener and poet participating in the Propel News Initiative.