Hearing on Police Use of Force at Protest Sought

Several City Council members are calling for a public hearing along with an independent investigation into the Oakland Police Department’s use of force against antiwar demonstrators Monday at the Port of Oakland.

Vice Mayor Nancy Nadal said she wants police to develop plans to better respond to “nonviolent demonstrations.”

Officers fired beanbag projectiles, wooden dowels and sting-ball grenades at protesters, injuring some of them. Officers said the protesters threw concrete, bolts and rocks at them, but Nadal said: “I’ve only heard statements about that happening from one place, and that’s been from the police.”