Fears of protest violence, some of it fueled by rumors, creep into Sacramento suburbs
As downtown Sacramento deals with nightly protests, suburban Sacramento shudders.
Fueled by growing rumors and a few small-scale instances of public activism, residents and law enforcement in towns around the region have been caught for days in a swirl of uncertainty and fear: Is the national wave of anger and violence over the Minneapolis police killing of George Floyd last week seeping out of central cities and creeping into suburbia?
Given the unprecedented nature and the magnitude of the protests nationally, anything is possible. While San Francisco and Oakland hunkered down this weekend under curfew orders, bands of protesters smashed windows and stole goods from stores in the upscale downtown of suburban Walnut Creek.
Some suburban crime appears to be tangentially related to the marches and civil disobedience of downtown. After windows were smashed at Sharif Jewelers on K Street in Sacramento, the company’s store on Marconi Avenue in Carmichael had its windows smashed.
Another group of men attempted to break into Jared Jewelry on Arden Way, but were chased away by police.
But to this point, the airwaves and internet have been filled more often with rumors and unfounded claims, some of them appearing to be purposely concocted out of malice on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.
One newly created Twitter account of uncertain origin, but purporting to be antifa, the left-wing anarchist movement, sowed fear Sunday night saying antifa was done rioting in the city and was now taking its war to the residential areas where white people live. Twitter reportedly suspended the account. NBC News and others reported that the account was run by white nationalists.
Elk Grove
They may be rumors in tense times, but Elk Grove residents on social media platforms, including NextDoor, appeared to be girding for unrest to reach the suburban city.
Shopping centers closed by early evening across Elk Grove and many storefronts were being watched by security or city police on a night that nearby Sacramento was under a curfew and patrolled by National Guard troops.
One message to “report suspicious items and activity,” warned motorists to keep eyes open for “stacked rocks and bricks where there shouldn’t be any,” “water bottles filled with a non-water substance,” and possible antifa members who “like to dress up like wannabe ninjas, all black and face masks and usually carrying a backpack.”
Another person, with errands to run, checked with NextDoor neighbors first to make sure the coast was clear: “I do not want to be bothered with any of those protesting and looting. Is Elk Grove expected to have those issues?” the post read.
Elk Grove police commented Monday: “With some of the messages being circulated on social media causing worry and concern, we wanted you to know: We are here, we are monitoring and we are committed to our community’s safety.” Police spokesman Jason Jimenez said the city would be willing to consider imposing an curfew, as Sacramento did, if needed.
At the Target store on Laguna Boulevard and Bruceville Road, a small printed sign offered an apology: “We apologize, but to ensure the safety of our Team Members and Guests, our store will be operating on modified store hours at this time.”
Roseville
Fears filtered into south Placer County as well this week. Roseville police reported several groups of protesters on street corners with signs, and said they have ramped up their patrols and public presence in recent days amid rumors that Sacramento’s violence could spread.
“We understand there’s a lot of concern in the entire region. We’re aware of several reports of misinformation on social media,” the Roseville Police Department said in a social media update Monday evening. “Rest assured, the police department is monitoring all reports related to our city and our region. We’re continually coordinating with our regional, state, and federal public safety partners.”
Some area residents, still shaken by rumors of violent confrontations in the suburbs, indicated that they were equipped with weapons and prepared to defend their homes from any potential threats.
On Tuesday at noon, the Roseville Police Department tweeted that a peaceful demonstration at the corner of Douglas Boulevard and Rocky Ridge Drive, scheduled for 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., was not impacting traffic and that no illegal activity had been observed.
Granite Bay
The most notable Floyd-related event outside of downtown Monday occurred at the corner of Douglas and Sierra College boulevards, by a Chick-Fil-A restaurant where a diverse crowd of 200 people held up Black Lives Matter signs, chanting “Justice for Floyd!” and “Hands up! Don’t shoot.”
Nearby, a small group watched, some with President Donald Trump paraphernalia. Some cars honked their horns in support of the protesters. Some swore.
Among the group was Will Craig, a junior at the University of California, Berkeley, where he plays football on scholarship out of Granite Bay High School. He is studying political science.
“As a human being, what I saw in that video of George Floyd enraged me,” Craig said. “We need change. We’re here to protest peacefully and to be heard peacefully.”
One man in the nearby group, who identified himself only as Brian from Auburn, wore a Trump 2020 flag as a cape.
“We don’t want anyone to loot or destroy any of this property here,” he said. “We’re going to make sure it’s safe. It sickens me that people across the country feel a need to burn down cities.”
Auburn
In Auburn, more than 100 protesters against police brutality gathered at the Historic Courthouse. There was no vandalism or theft reported in connection with the protesters on previous nights.
A captain with the Placer County Sheriff’s Office monitoring the protest. Troy Minton-Sander, however, said police have heard rumors of people planning violence.
“We are aware of unsubstantiated rumors of looting and rioting across Placer County,” the Sheriff’s Office said on social media Monday. “We are monitoring any activity that may be taking place across the county.”
Placerville
Fears of unrest caused cancellation of one planned protest for later this week, and the shutdown of Main Street on Monday night.
The Placerville Police Department said a planned George Floyd protest in the foothills community was canceled over fears that it could erupt in violence, as those in Sacramento have.
“We are in contact with the event organizers. They have expressed to us that they did not intend for the event to be violent and wish to cancel the event at this time,” Placerville police said in a prepared statement. “To anyone who intends on being present for a demonstration, all we ask is they are peaceful and respectful of our community.”
Police said they would shut down parts of Main Street on Monday evening as a precaution, though acknowledging they don’t have definitive information of any planned illegal activity.
”We will have increased law enforcement presence throughout the city to protect against any potential civil unrest,” police said in a statement. “At this time, we have not learned of anything definitive but we are taking additional measures of security.”
El Dorado County
The El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office reported Monday that it has called the National Guard for assistance, based in part on seeing areas of its county listed on social media as possible targets for criminal activity.
Additional patrols were sent out, “prepared for any civil unrest which may occur,” sheriff’s officials said. Although there has been no concrete evidence of civil disobedience or criminality, the department said it needs to be alert.
One ramp to U.S. Highway 50 was closed at 5 p.m. Monday. And National Guard Humvees were stationed at the El Dorado Hills Town Center on Monday night, with an Army helicopter overhead.
A post on a Rancho Cordova neighborhood Facebook group claimed buses of 1,000 to 2,000 people were on their way to El Dorado Hills, Folsom, and Roseville to protest. “EDH, Folsom and Roseville have all been targeted as ‘white neighborhoods’ and people are coming up this way,” read the post, which claimed to cite local law enforcement.
El Dorado sheriff’s officials, however, said, “right now, there are no confirmed cases of looting or criminal behavior associated with rioting. We have many people working very hard to ensure it stays this way.”
Folsom
Social media postings Monday claimed the area’s outlet stores were going to be targeted. Folsom police said they are watching.
“We fully appreciate and respect the freedom to protest safely, lawfully, and peacefully. We will uphold and protect those rights while ensuring the safety of our community,” the agency wrote Monday evening. “We are also aware of social media reports of threatened illegal activity in Folsom and surrounding areas.
“The Folsom Police Department stands ready to protect our citizens and will have additional officers working to keep Folsom safe. We are also in close communication and coordinating with our regional, state, and federal public safety partners.”
On Tuesday, about 200 people gathered for a rally outside the Folsom Public Library, which sits next to city hall and the city’s police station. “We’re not here to loot, we are not here to riot,” a speaker with a bullhorn said.
This story was originally published June 1, 2020 at 10:04 PM.