SLO protest organizer faces 5 criminal charges, including participation in a riot
Editor’s note: This story was updated on Wednesday, July 22, to include updated information about protesters who were struck by vehicles during the demonstration.
San Luis Obispo police on Tuesday night arrested a well-known anti-racism protest leader on suspicion of multiple criminal charges following a demonstration through the city and onto Highway 101.
Officers arrested Tianna Arata — who’s helped organize multiple local protests against racial injustice and police brutality — on suspicion of participation in a riot, unlawful assembly, conspiracy, unlawful imprisonment and resisting arrest, according to a San Luis Obispo Police Department news release.
Police had learned of the protest early Monday morning and began reaching out to organizers to “ensure the safety of the protesters and community,” the release said. Arata assured Police Chief Deanna Cantrell that the protest would be peaceful.
Arata helped lead a group of about 300 protesters that gathered in Mitchell Park about 4 p.m. After a series of speeches, the group marched downtown, and organizers emphasized that safety and nonviolence were top priorities.
The marchers said they were inspired in part by a video of San Luis Obispo County Sheriff Ian Parkinson in which he said he’s “never seen any indication that systemic racism exists in this county.”
Vehicles hitting protesters
Partway through the demonstration, protesters marched onto Highway 101 and blocked lanes in all directions for nearly an hour, the release said.
“Law enforcement resources were limited based on expectations of a peaceful protest,” the release said. “While on the freeway, protesters damaged the hood of a passenger vehicle and smashed the rear window where a 4-year-old child was in the back seat and had glass shattered on him.”
After marchers exited Highway 101, “some individuals were also observed chasing down and throwing objects at a vehicle,” the release said.
A video of the incident acquired by the Tribune shows the car push into the protesters, hitting one person. After protesters move aside, the vehicle can be seen driving away with a smashed rear window.
In their release, San Luis Obispo police did not include that the car had hit protesters.
During a separate incident, a small group of protesters were hit by a gray vehicle near the intersection of Chorro and Pacific streets at around 8 p.m. Tuesday, according to an edited video the San Luis Obispo Police Department posted on Wednesday.
That video appears to show a protester being dragged on the hood of the vehicle for a short time before the car drives away, narrowly missing Arata and other protesters.
Police said Arata struck the car with a flagpole “as the vehicle attempted to leave the area.”
On Wednesday, the Police Department sent a news release seeking the identity of the car’s driver, described as a “vandalism victim.”
Jeff Smith, public information officer for the San Luis Obispo Police Department, said that person then came forward and identified themselves.
Smith said investigators were inspecting the damage to the person’s car.
Smith said he couldn’t comment on whether charges will be brought against the driver.
Police arrest Arata after demonstration
Eventually, the protest wrapped up in Mitchell Park at about 8 p.m. Arata was arrested after the protest ended “in coordination with the District Attorney’s Office,” the release said.
The arrest was “based on Arata’s actions and the actions of the organized group,” although the release doesn’t claim she directly participated in any of the described vandalism.
Police also arrested an unnamed individual who allegedly assaulted an officer while Arata was being taken into custody.
A video on Twitter shows protesters engaging with police at the park after the protest as Arata was being arrested.
She yells, “I’m not resisting,” as officers place her into a police vehicle.
Moments later, an officer shoves one of the protesters to the ground. After standing back up, the protester appears to yell at the officer before suddenly kicking him in the crotch and then dashing off across the park.
“The city of San Luis Obispo supports peaceful protests,” Cantrell said in a statement. “But we will not support violent acts and will continue to take action to protect our community.”
This story was originally published July 22, 2020 at 12:32 AM.
