The Los Angeles police chief ordered on Thursday the release of about 90 Ferguson protesters who were arrested Wednesday night.
After Monday's announcement that Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson would not be indicted in the shooting death of Michael Brown, protests broke out in dozens of cities across the United States. In downtown Los Angeles, about 200 demonstrators ended an hours-long march on Wednesday night, after they were stopped by riot police.
About 130 of those demonstrators were arrested, according to NBC Los Angeles. Around 90 were still in jail Thursday afternoon.
“We have every legal right to keep them until they post bail," Cmdr. Andrew Smith told the Los Angeles Times. "But in light of the holiday … [Beck] called and said he wants everybody who is eligible for release to be released by dinner time."
BREAKING: @LAPDChiefBeck orders the release -- by dinner -- of about 90 who remain in jail after being arrested in local Ferguson protests.— Matt Stevens (@MattStevensLAT) November 27, 2014
Prior to Wednesday's protest, Los Angeles Police Department chief Charlie Beck had said that if any protesters ended up spending the holiday in jail, it was their own fault. Beck had tweeted this week, encouraging protesters to remain peaceful.
#ProtestInPeace = always permitted but #LAPD will not tolerate acts of violence or vandalism. #Ferguson— Chief Charlie Beck (@LAPDChiefBeck) November 25, 2014
Wednesday marked the third day of protests in Los Angeles:
On Crenshaw, no indictment on #MichaelBrown bring tears. "Some shook their heads and walked away," reports @LATangel— Shelby Grad (@shelbygrad) November 25, 2014
#LosAngeles: LAPD bringing in bus to arrest hundreds of protestors in downtown LA. #Ferguson pic.twitter.com/LW58PNVtMe— ѕyndιcalιѕт (@syndicalisms) November 27, 2014
With 338 Arrested, Some #Ferguson Protesters In Los Angeles Spending Thanksgiving In Jail via http://t.co/vGM2TBTBz6 pic.twitter.com/Z6jT2iswTX— Lnonblonde (@Lnonblonde) November 27, 2014
Photos: Police arrest dozens of protesters in downtown Los Angeles for refusing to disperse (Via @yamphoto) #Ferguson pic.twitter.com/tkZmsTQ6yX— Andrew Peng (@TheAPJournalist) November 27, 2014
In Oakland, California, where protests have also taken place since the announcement, about 35 protesters were arrested Wednesday, according to NBC Bay Area.
New York police arrested a handful of the protesters who tried to disrupt the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on Thursday.