SF-Area Riots Erupt Over Fatal Shooting By Cop

An angry mob protesting a cop's fatal shooting of an unarmed man stormed Oakland last night, hurling rocks at cars and storefronts, and lighting garbage on fire. About 200 protesters—including a core group of self-proclaimed communists—began peacefully at the subway stop where an officer killed a 22-year-old passenger on New Year's Day. But demonstrators turned violent as the night wore on, unleashing their fury at racial injustice indiscriminately, often against minorities, the Chronicle reports.

"I feel like the night is going great," said one demonstrator. "I feel like Oakland should make some noise. This is how we need to fight back. It's for the murder of a black male." Others were not so uplifted by the violence; said one woman weeping near her smashed car: "Emotionally, I totally understand them. But it's not nice." (More San Francisco stories.)