Police Go Crazy: Try to Box In And Arrest Over 1000 protesters

As the crowd chanted to be let go, the police lost control of their horses. The horses reared and jumped into sections of the crowd. Angry protesters attacked by the horses started throwing things and the police line collapsed with protesters moving back as a group to 8th and Market. At 8th and Market the police arrested perhaps one or two people for minor charges and the crowd tried to block the police cars from leaving. The police then charged, swinging batons and hitting everyone in sight. Eventually the number of protesters decreased, the police took the intersection and the protesters got back on the sidewalk. Due to the location most of the crowd was now composed of people leaving the main march rather than the original breakaway protest. Around 7 PM the police stopped blocking the intersection, the crowd moved in and a few minutes later several hundred police moved back to retake the intersection. There was no conflict and most people moved back to the sidewalk but a small group of people (perhaps forty protesters) was surrounded in the middle of the intersection. The small group sat and locked arms and after the police used various pain techniques the small group of peaceful protesters were put in several police cars and a bus.

Unlike last month’s protests, I did not see any broken windows or much graffiti at yesterday’s demonstration (if some occurred it was not near the main breakaway march). The main conflict was due to a strange decision by the police officer in charge to box in 1000 protesters and make them think that a mass arrest was about to occur. Right before the police blocked in the protesters I overheard several police officers who seemed to not understand the order that had just been given. While many police later overreacted and used excessive force on bystanders the police seemed to be in shock after receiving an order from their commander that made no sense.