George Zimmerman protests triggered at least 8 arrests in L.A.
At least eight people were arrested during protests that stretched from Sunday into Monday morning in the wake of the not-guilty verdict in the George Zimmerman murder trial.
One person was arrested for battery on a peace officer near 10th Street and Washington Boulevard and five others for failure to disperse in Hollywood during the demonstrations. Arrests were also made for vandalism and causing a disturbance.
Police called off a citywide tactical alert Monday morning.
Zimmerman, 29, was acquitted Sunday in Florida of second-degree murder and manslaughter in the 2012 shooting death of Trayvon Martin, 17.
About 80 protesters chanting “No justice, no peace” had gathered in front of the CNN building on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood shortly after midnight, which police declared an unlawful assembly.
More than 100 LAPD officers in riot gear converged on the crowd, arresting protesters and telling people to disperse. Some officers fired non-lethal rounds into the crowd.
Earlier Sunday, Mayor Eric Garcetti called for peace as LAPD officers dealt with the aftermath of Zimmerman’s acquittal of slaying unarmed black teen Trayvon Martin.
As the protests continued Sunday, Garcetti took to Twitter and quoted Martin Luther King Jr: “Nonviolence is a powerful & just weapon .. It is a sword that heals.”
He also urged residents to “exercise 1st Amendment and practice peace in City of Angels tonight.”
Some marchers in Hollywood encouraged tourists to photograph them and join them in the demonstration. Meanwhile, street vendors went about their business, grilling hot dogs and hawking tickets for comedy shows as police helicopters hovered overhead.
Sunday evening, marchers blocked the 10 Freeway in the Mid-City area.
The California Highway Patrol said “police activity” around the 10 Freeway and Crenshaw Boulevard jammed traffic for a time.
LAPD sources said a splinter group from a larger protest walked down an onramp to the 10 Freeway and stood mostly in the eastbound lanes. Officials said portions of the 10 were closed from 6:20 p.m. to 6:44 p.m. but were then reopened.
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andrew.blankstein@latimes.com
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