George Zimmerman Verdict Spark Protests in California Cities

The George Zimmerman verdict sparked mostly peaceful protests in several California cities. Police reports that some angry protesters broke windows and started small street fires in Oakland.

The gatherings started on Saturday night after the jury in the case acquitted Zimmerman of all charges. The groups ranging from a couple dozen people, to several hundred were mostly contained and not violent. Some groups were still gathered on the early hours of Sunday.

As reported earlier by The Inquisitr, the Oakland police dispatch office said about 100 people protested, with some in the crowd breaking windows on businesses and starting small fires in the streets. As the protest wound down with the crowd dispersing, the office said that as of 2 a.m. PDT it had no word of any arrests.

It was largely feared that violence would ensue if George Zimmerman was not found guilty, as it occurred on Saturday, when the jury rendered a verdict of not guilty.

Local media reports indicate that some Oakland marchers vandalized a police car and police blocked the protesters from moving forward.

The Oakland Tribune reports that some of the windows in their downtown offices were broken and helicopter footage shows crowds attempting to start fires and paint squad cars with graffiti.

Protesters reportedly burned and American flag and the California flag and spray painted the Alameda County Davidson Courthouse.

Police broke out a protest in San Francisco, after officers escorted demonstrators as they marched on the city’s Mission District. The group was dispersed by 10 p.m.

The verdict also sparked protests in Los Angeles, where demonstrators gathered in Leimert Park, the city’s historically black neighborhood. Police said the protest was a peaceful vigil.

It appears that police was able to keep things from getting out of hand in California after the jury’s verdict in the George Zimmerman case.

[Image via Jim Roberts/Twitter]