Capital Public Radio photographer Andrew Nixon documented the hundreds of demonstrators who marched through downtown Sacramento on Thursday. The activists — who were protesting the shooting of Stephon Clark by police a day after law enforcement released video footage of the event — gripped the city.
The demonstrations begain at at City Hall at 3 p.m., following a press conference from Mayor Darrell Steinberg. Protesters flooded the lobby and chanted "Praise the people!" and demanded that Police Chief Daniel Hahn and the mayor show their faces.
Demonstrators gather outside City Hall. Andrew Nixon / Capital Public Radio
Protesters move inside City Hall. Andrew Nixon / Capital Public Radio
Andrew Nixon / Capital Public Radio
The march spilled into the streets of downtown, blocking traffic as protesters chanted "Don't shoot, it's a cell phone!"
Andrew Nixon / Capital Public Radio
Andrew Nixon / Capital Public Radio
Andrew Nixon / Capital Public Radio
Andrew Nixon / Capital Public Radio
Andrew Nixon / Capital Public Radio
Andrew Nixon / Capital Public Radio
California Highway Patrol vehicles blocked the onramp to Interstate 5 near the train station. But that didn't deter protesters, who stopped traffic on the freeway in both directions.
Andrew Nixon / Capital Public Radio
Andrew Nixon / Capital Public Radio
Andrew Nixon / Capital Public Radio
Andrew Nixon / Capital Public Radio
With a Sacramento Kings game scheduled to tip off at 7 p.m., demonstrators returned to downtown and blocked entrances to the Golden 1 Center arena, chanting "Hands up! Don't shoot!"
While some fans made it inside, thousands were unable to enter. The team eventually told fans to return home and refunds were given. Inside, fans described the experience as like watching a high-school basketball game.
"Who the Kings playing today? Nobody," protesters chanted. "They’re missing a basketball game, but we’ve lost a black life."
Andrew Nixon / Capital Public Radio
Andrew Nixon / Capital Public Radio
Andrew Nixon / Capital Public Radio
Andrew Nixon / Capital Public Radio
Andrew Nixon / Capital Public Radio
Andrew Nixon / Capital Public Radio
Andrew Nixon / Capital Public Radio
A vigil for Clark is scheduled Friday night at 7 p.m. near the home of his grandparents.
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