Times of San Diego
SAN DIEGO — San Diego Police arrested at least 16 people Thursday morning when a downtown protest against President-elect Donald Trump turned violent.
The demonstration began near Broadway and Front Street. The crowd grew to several hundred and began moving through the Horton Plaza area and into the Gaslamp Quarter to yells of “Not my president” and “Love trumps hate.”
Protesters also marched in downtown Los Angeles and shut down portions of the Hollywood Freeway, while in Santa Ana, police broke up a demonstration that included hurling objects at officers.
Thirty people out of hundreds were taken into custody in Los Angeles and in some cases, force was used, said Officer Tony Im of the Los Angeles Police Department‘s Media Relations Section.
Officers were in full riot gear as they walked protesters off the freeway in what was otherwise a peaceful demonstration, according to the LAPD. By 1:30 a.m., the freeway was clear of demonstrators but lanes were closed for cleanup and reopened about 3:45 a.m.
In Santa Ana, police worked to tame a crowd that dispersed shortly before 1:30 a.m. Thursday following violent protests that produced no reports of injuries.
A boisterous crowd, which reached around 600 people at its height, gathered around 7 p.m. Wednesday near the intersection of Bristol Street and McFadden Avenue, said Santa Ana police Sgt. Carol Salvatierra. Demonstrators threw bottles, rocks and fireworks at officers, she said, and at least one police squad car was vandalized. Police formed scrimmage lines and used other tactics to tame the crowd.
Salvatierra said “several” people were arrested.
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