00:00What began as a peaceful Juneteenth celebration in Oakland's Lake Merritt turned into a night
00:17of chaos and violence on Wednesday. Juneteenth, observed on June 19 each year, marks the emancipation
00:26of enslaved black Americans. It became a federal holiday in 2021, following the signing of
00:34a bill by President Joe Biden. The festivities, attended by around 5,000 people, were initially
00:41calm and celebratory. However, as the evening progressed, a sideshow began near Bellevue
00:49and Grand Avenues, drawing a crowd of 2,000 to 3,000 people to the area. Paul Chambers,
00:58Strategic Communication Manager for the Oakland Police Department, described the situation,
01:04At about 8.15 p.m., that's when things started to change. That's when the sideshow broke
01:11out. A fight broke out nearby, causing the crowd to move toward the dispute. It was then
01:18that gunshots rang out, leading to multiple people being shot. While the exact number
01:25of injuries remains unknown, officials confirmed that no fatalities had been reported as of
01:32Wednesday night. As the crowd scattered in panic, officers on the scene attempted to
01:38guide people to safety. In the ensuing chaos, several officers were assaulted by members
01:45of the crowd. Although the exact number of officers struck was not disclosed, one person
01:52was taken into custody for assaulting an officer. The Oakland Police Department advised locals
01:59to avoid the area as they secured the scene and investigated the incident. A purported
02:06video of the shooting showed massive chaos and confusion on the streets of Oakland.
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