Protesters in San Jose on Friday evening shut down U.S. Highway 101 for an hour in both directions and knocked out a police officer with a rock as outrage continues to boil over in response to the death of George Floyd while in police custody, according to news reports from the area.
It began as a peaceful march, then a crowd began to gather near San Jose City Hall. Police dressed in riot gear stood in front of protesters holding signs and shooting cellphone video.
Police began firing a non-lethal projectile that appeared to be plastic pucks into a crowd of roughly 1,000 people.
A dumpster was lit on fire, while at least one person got into a physical altercation with a police officer.
In time, police declared the scene an unlawful assembly.
Protesters screamed "Hands up, don't shoot" and "No justice, no peace" while police car windows were being smashed.
Protesters also blocked several streets throughout the downtown area.
San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo called for peace in the city while justice is sorted out in Minneapolis.
"Anger and peaceful protest will always be appropriate responses to injustice; violence will never be. San Jose is united in outrage over the atrocious crime committed in Minneapolis and in sadness over George Floyd's horrible death. SJPD will take a measured approach in facilitating peaceful protest, but there will be no tolerance of violence to our people or damage to our city," Liccardo wrote in a statement.
There was no immediate information about the officer who was struck.