Oakland protesters march in solidarity with Baltimore

Video: Oakland Protesters March In Solidarity With Baltimore

Roughly 50 protesters gathered at the Oakland Federal Building Monday evening to march in solidarity with Baltimore demonstrators who protested police handling of a man who died of a spinal injury while in custody.

In Baltimore, rioting protesters grew violent, hurling rocks at police, burning their cars and destroying storefronts.

The Oakland protest remained peaceful into the night, though it eventually doubled in size, and demonstrators said that was still not big enough.

“We're not going to get justice until people are in the streets,” said Timothy Akaamka, a march organizer who took to the megaphone ahead of the march through downtown Oakland. “If we want to see an end to this violence, we need to change the whole system.”

Jabari Shaw — who fled federal agents in Oakland last month after they mistook him for a violent suspect — said that what happened to Freddie Gray in Baltimore is not an isolated incident.

“The same thing that happened in Baltimore has happened in Ferguson, in Miami — in every city that has black people,” Shaw said to cheers from the crowd. “We stand in solidarity and say no more.”

The peaceful, diverse crowd marched past police headquarters, where officers in riot helmets stood watch.

On Monday April 27, 2015 in Oakland, California, activists gather in Oakland outside the Federal building in solidarity with people in Baltimore who are protesting the police killing of Freddie Gray. A family comes out of their house to watch the protest and is encouraged to join. less On Monday April 27, 2015 in Oakland, California, activists gather in Oakland outside the Federal building in solidarity with people in Baltimore who are protesting the police killing of Freddie Gray. A family ... more Photo: Gabrielle Lurie, Special To The Chronicle Photo: Gabrielle Lurie, Special To The Chronicle Image 1 of / 27 Caption Close Oakland protesters march in solidarity with Baltimore 1 / 27 Back to Gallery

The only tension arose when the crowd, which had grown to nearly 100, made its way past a freeway on-ramp on Brush Street near Seventh.

Seemingly caught unaware, more than a dozen California Highway Patrol officers on motorcycles zipped through the crowd to block access to the freeway.

When the officers formed a line, Marc Anthony Calloway, 30, a counselor at the Healthy Oakland social services agency, tried to engage them in conversation.

“So what are your thoughts on police brutality?” he asked each one, moving down the line.

Some deflected, referring him to a sergeant or police spokesperson. Others didn't answer.

“Their silence speaks words,” Calloway said. “Us being out here is the first step. Getting them to speak on it is the next.”

From there, the crowd turned left on Seventh and marched through west Oakland, where they distributed literature to curious residents who came out of their houses. The marchers invited the neighbors to join the march before heading back toward downtown. The marchers were largely law-abiding except for some who spray-painted windows.

By 8:30 p.m., the crowd gathered in the dark at 14th and Broadway for a makeshift sit-in.

“We're here to show the people in Baltimore that you can shut it down,” Akaamka said. “If you put down the rocks and shut down the system's means to capital, I guarantee the city would respond. Those cops would be in jail tomorrow.”

Around 9:30, organizers called an end to the march and spoke of returning Tuesday at 7 p.m.

Many left, but a small group continued north on Telegraph where the windows of the Dogwood bar and another business were smashed. Police followed the group and declared an unlawful assembly on the 2500 block of Telegraph around 10 p.m.