AZ Central – by Yihyun JeongA protest against police brutality Saturday night in downtown Phoenix ended with a clash with officers, the arrest of six protesters and the discharge of pepper-spray balls, officials said.
The march, which was organized by Wave of Action PHX, began around 8:30 p.m. with about 40 to 50 people gathered at Civic Space Park between Central and First avenues near Van Buren Street.
Though the march started peacefully, it almost immediately became a serious public nuisance and hazard when marchers entered the roadway and began obstructing traffic, Phoenix police spokesman Sgt. Jonathan Howard said.
The marchers were warned repeatedly to stay out of the roadway, but the majority of them disregarded the orders and continued to block traffic in the area, Howard said. They created additional hazards as they crossed against traffic signals near First and Washington streets.
Footage taken at the event shows marchers clad in all black shouting, “Hands up; shoot back!” as they marched into traffic toward CityScape. The footage shows officers dressed in tactical gear along the street and some on motorcycles telling protesters to get out of the street or they will be arrested.
Several arrests were made for obstructing a thoroughfare and failing to obey officers regarding traffic control, Howard said.
Several members of the group became violent toward the officers making arrests and began to throw flagpoles that they had been carrying at the officers, Howard said.
“Officers discharged pepper balls at these suspects to protect the officers, the suspects being arrested and others in the area,” Howard said.
The assailants fled the scene and were not located, he said.
Pants Up! Don’t Loot!
Maybe the protesters should have carried their guns like they did in St. Louis the other day. I betcha none of those cops would have done a thing, if that happened.