Dozens arrested, cited in Northern California police crackdown on protests

OAKLAND, Calif., May 25 (UPI) -- Dozens of activists, angered by the city's attempts to crackdown on "unlawful" nighttime marches, were arrested or cited in the second night of protests in this Northern California city.

Hundreds gathered Saturday and Sunday night to demonstrate against Mayor Libby Schaaf's edict to keep nighttime protests on the sidewalks. Many refused to leave the streets and decried Shaaf's rules. Shaaf said she's simply enforcing existing laws following the May Day demonstrations that left dozens of businesses and vehicles damaged.

"Oakland protests have been marred, and in many cases shut down, when a small number of vandals have committed illegal acts, and those incidents tend to have happened during nighttime marches on the streets," Schaaf said.

Protesters called the latest policies on demonstrations "unconstitutional." Saturday, some 47 were arrested. It is unclear how many were arrested Sunday.

Organizer Cat Brooks was among the participants taken in by police.

"We have to fight this, which is frustrating because we have other things to fight for," she said, adding she would rather be rallying attention for the city budget, education or gentrification issues.