Officers hurt in Occupy clash in Calif. Capitol
Feb 27, 2012, 11:39 PM
Associated Press
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) – At least two law enforcement officers were injured during a clash with members of the Occupy movement who were at the state Capitol to protest a rally by a pro-white group.
The clash erupted about 3 p.m. Monday as California Highway Patrol and Sacramento city police officers were escorting about 35 members of the South Africa Project to a parking garage following their protest outside the Capitol building.
An Associated Press photographer says roughly 50 members of Occupy Oakland began throwing cans and bottles at the South Africa group and at the officers. The Occupy members then rushed the officers as people with the pro-whites group rushed into the parking garage.
A city police officer was injured when a member of the Occupy group jumped on him, and a CHP officer was hurt after being struck by an object. Both were taken from the scene by ambulance.
At least two Occupy members were arrested.
The violence abated after a large contingent of law enforcement arrived at the scene, about one block from the Capitol.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.
A teenage girl was detained Monday outside the Capitol after police separated Occupy protesters from a group opposing black-on-white violence in South Africa.
The girl with Occupy Oakland was taken to Juvenile Hall after she became combative and assaulted an officer who asked her to pick up litter, California Highway Patrol Officer Sean Kennedy said. He did not have her age or city of residence.
“It’s a free country and we’re here to protect everyone’s rights,” Kennedy said.
There were no other arrests, despite shouting and sign-waving by competing protesters who were separated by about two-dozen officers on foot and horseback.
Activists with the Occupy group cursed at peace officers and about 40 mostly white men who were at the Capitol to draw attention to what they say is white genocide.
Organizers for the South Africa Project said similar demonstrations were planned in other states and elsewhere in California.
“There is white genocide going on in South Africa. It’s a government-backed genocide,” said Kyle Krieger, a spokesman for the South Africa Project.
His comments were echoed by other men, some with shaved heads and prominent tattoos.
Occupy protesters, some wearing hoods or masks, said they came from the San Francisco Bay area to counter what they called a racist group affiliated with former Louisiana Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke.
Some in the Occupy crowd also had shaved heads or mohawk haircuts and equally prominent tattoos, but a different message.
The Occupy crowd included Allen Mullins, who was dressed as Captain America. He said he walked 5,000 miles to call attention to the plight of homeless veterans and intends to visit every state capital. Sacramento was the 41st statehouse he has seen, he said.
Rachael Crisler wore a long peasant skirt as she stood alone singing folk songs with her guitar.
“I heard that they’re having a Nazi rally, so I wanted to share peace and love,” said Crisler. “If we respond with love, we create love.”
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