14 arrested during racial equality demonstrations in Raleigh

RALEIGH, N.C. — Police in Raleigh spent hours overnight Saturday working to clear out protesters from the downtown area, making 14 arrests in the process.

Hundreds took to the streets in a demonstration about racial equality in the wake of the officer-involved shooting of Jacob Blake in Wisconsin, according to our news partner WTVD.

But, the tone of the demonstration quickly shifted as reports came in of signs being thrown into glass windows and barricades tossed a police officers.

The Wake County Sheriff’s Office was also vandalized with spray paint.

All of this as Raleigh police tried to disperse the crowd and enforce the 10 p.m. curfew in anticipation of the march.

WTVD spoke to the Wake County Sheriff Gerald Baker, who said it’s the people’s right to come out and protest peacefully, but when they chose to be unlawful, it puts officers in a difficult situation.

For several hours before nightfall, the protests were peaceful.

Demonstrators held signs like “No Justice, No Peace” and “Black Lives Matter” and marched around the State Capitol and the Governor’s Mansion, chanted and listened to different speeches.

Raleigh officials said some roads in downtown will be closed through the weekend due to the planned social justice march. In addition, the entire city will be under a curfew Friday and Saturday night running from 10 p.m. until 5 a.m.

Raleigh leaders asked all attendees to wear masks and follow social distancing requirements.

Jacob Blake paralyzed from the waist down after being shot by Wisconsin police, family says (NCD)

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