Protests against police resume in Baton Rouge

Marchers gather at scene of Sterling’s death

BATON ROUGE, La. — Protesters gathered again Saturday at a Baton Rouge convenience store for another day of demonstrations following the fatal shooting of a black man by two white police officers in the store’s parking lot.

The gathering at the Triple S convenience store came after overnight demonstrations produced tense moments resulting in 30 arrests.

The demonstrations protested Tuesday’s shooting of Alton Sterling, whose death was captured on cellphone video.

Lael Montgomery of Baton Rouge said he came out to protest racism in the community.

“I’ve been in active in the community for years. We have been suffering police brutality for a long time. A lot of racism has been going on here for a long time,” he said. “I have kids. They need to be raised in a better environment than they’re in.”

Some of the protesters walked over to the police department while others were planning to take part in a demonstration later Saturday, marching from City Hall to the state Capitol.

A few hundred protesters briefly faced off against police in riot gear outside the police department. The demonstrators shouted “No justice! No peace!” while a line of police in riot gear looked on.

At least one man was walked away by police. A police officer on a microphone told the crowd that as long as they stayed on the grass and not on the road they could remain.

Members of the New Black Panther Party for Self Defense called for the arrest and indictment of the officers involved in Sterling’s shooting, shouting “Black Power” and raising their fists.

“These are human rights violations,” Krystal Muhammad shouted to the crowd. “They are not operating as human beings. They are being predators on our communities across America.”

Montgomery said he didn’t want protesters to go to the police station, saying he knows police are on edge following the Thursday shooting deaths of five officers in Dallas. Tempers flared on late Friday night in Baton Rouge when hundreds of demonstrators gathered in front of the Baton Rouge Police Department, demonstrating against the shooting. Authorities said 30 people were arrested.

“I know (police) are on edge,” Montgomery said. “They’re scared too. Of course you got your bad apples but all police aren’t bad.”

Those safety concerns were also on the mind of Baton Rouge resident Eugene Collins. He said he was at the protests Friday as well to help keep demonstrators away from police.

“We don’t want anyone getting arrested. And we definitely don’t want any of these folks tear gassed, stun gunned or getting shot in the process,” he said.