Police arrest 150+ protesters in Berkeley, California; others protest in Phoenix, Seattle, and NYC

Downtown Berkeley with SF Bay (Introvert)

Since Ferguson, there have been many protests. Over 150 protesters were arrested in California:

December 9, 2014

(Reuters) – More than 150 protesters were arrested in California overnight after shutting down a major freeway in another outbreak of nationwide demonstrations against police use of deadly force on minorities.

Across the other side of the country late on Monday, basketball stars in New York including Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James joined the protests by wearing shirts emblazoned with “I can’t breathe” — the last words of Eric Garner, a black man who died after a police chokehold.

Large crowds have demonstrated daily in several U.S. cities since a grand jury decided last week not to bring criminal charges against a white police officer over the death of Garner, an unarmed father of six, in July…

Several hundred people stormed onto Interstate 80 in the college town of Berkeley near San Francisco on Monday night snarling traffic in both directions.

Protesters threw rocks and other objects at officers, California Highway Patrol spokesman Daniel Hill said. More than 150 people were arrested, mostly for resisting or obstructing an officer, he added.

Earlier, dozens of protesters stopped an Amtrak train in the town by lying on the tracks or sitting on a sofa placed across the line.

Outside the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, a group of about 300 protesters blocked streets and chanted, “I can’t breathe,” in memory of Garner, and “Hands up, don’t shoot,” a reference to Brown’s death.

In downtown Phoenix, about 200 protesters marched to police headquarters over the killing of another unarmed black man by a white officer in what authorities described as a struggle last week. http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/12/09/us-usa-new-york-chokehold-idUSKCN0JH2BI20141209

December 9, 2014Hundreds of protesters converged on the Barclays Center in New York Monday getting in the wy of ticketholders who came to see a basketball game and possibly get a glimpse of Price William and the Duchess of Cambridge.

Protesters staged a die-in outside the arena as well as spilling into the Atlantic Terminal Mall as demonstrators continue to protest the decision by a Staten Island grand jury not to indict a white police officer in the chokehold death of an unarmed black male, Eric Garner.

Protesters caused no problem to the Royal visitors, while protesters continued to chant as the game was over and the crowds started to file out.

In Berkeley, Calif., protesters marches through the streets for the third night in a row, blocking major roadways and even causing an Amtrak train and BART service to stall. http://www.foxnews.com/us/2014/12/09/protesters-block-traffic-stop-train-in-california/

December 9, 2014

More than 150 protesters were arrested in California overnight after shutting down a major freeway and stopping an Amtrak train as nationwide demonstrations against police use of deadly force on minorities continued for a third night.

Hundreds of people marched through the college town of Berkeley for a third night a row on Monday, local media reported.

California Highway Patrol spokesman Daniell Hill said several hundred people stormed onto Interstate 80 in the town near San Francisco late Monday, snarling traffic in both directions.

Protesters threw rocks and other objects at officers, Hill said. More than 150 people were arrested, mostly for resisting or obstructing an officer, he added.

Earlier, dozens of protesters stopped an Amtrak train in Berkeley by lying on the tracks or sitting on a sofa placed across the line.

No injuries were reported in either incident.

Nationwide protests

Marches were held in a number of cities across the United States, including Phoenix and Seattle, where demonstrations remained largely peaceful.

In downtown Phoenix, about 200 protesters marched to police headquarters over the killing of another unarmed black man by a white officer in what authorities described as a struggle last week.

About 300 protesters in New York City blocked streets outside the Barclays Center sports arena, where the National Basketball Association’s Cleveland Cavaliers were playing against the Brooklyn Nets.

The demonstrators chanted the now-famous phrase “I Can’t Breathe,” the last words spoken by Eric Garner, a 43-year-old man who died in July after being placed in a chokehold by police officer Daniel Pantaleo and forced to the ground in an incident captured on video.

Inside the arena, Cavaliers’ superstar LeBron James and other players wore T-shirts emblazoned with the phrase during pre-game warm ups.

Angry protests erupted last week over the deaths of Garner and Michael Brown, an unarmed teenager in Ferguson, Missouri who was shot to death in August after a street confrontation with officer Darren Wilson.

Behind the protests

A grand jury’s decision Nov. 24 not to indict Wilson sparked angry and violent protests for several nights in Ferguson. A grand jury decision Dec. 3 in the New York case sparked another series of nationwide protests.

On Monday, New York State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman said he was seeking the power to investigate all police killings of unarmed civilians in the state. It remained unclear whether New York Governor Andrew Cuomo would grant Schneiderman such powers.

In an interview with Black Entertainment Television Monday, President Barack Obama said that blacks do not exaggerate when they talk about such situations, and said racism is “deeply rooted” in U.S. society. http://www.voanews.com/content/protests-continue-in-us-cities-against-police-killings-of-blacks/2551396.html

Many are upset that a Grand Jury concluded that no charges needed to be brought against the white police officer who shot the black Michael Brown or the white police officer whose arrestee Eric Garner died. Many believe that these incidents were racially motivated, which if they were (and I have my doubts that it was) would, of course, be wrong. There are other concerns about police-involved incidents in Cleveland and elsewhere.

While there can be a place, at limited times, for peaceful protests, throwing rocks on police is wrong. Some government officials, including from Washington, D.C., have fanned the flames of certain police incidents as have some ‘activists.’

Violence is not the answer to violence. Notice what Jesus said about one protesting what could be considered as an illegal police action:

52 Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword. (Matthew 26:52, KJV)

Look at what John the Baptist taught the soldiers who were, in essence, the occupying ‘police’ of Judea:

2…the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness. 3 And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins… 14 And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages. (Luke 3:2-3, KJV)

Vengeance belongs to God:

17 Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. 18 If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. 19 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. (Romans 12:17-19, NKJV)

What is needed is peace:

9 Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God. (Matthew 5:9)

As far as violence goes, the Bible also shows that God is against violence and that destruction will come because of it:

23 ‘Make a chain,
For the land is filled with crimes of blood,
And the city is full of violence.
24 Therefore I will bring the worst of the Gentiles,
And they will possess their houses;
I will cause the pomp of the strong to cease,
And their holy places shall be defiled. (Ezekiel 7:23-24)

28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; 29 being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality…30…violent, proud, boasters,…31…unmerciful; 32 who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them. (Romans 1:28-32)

8…And the violence of the land and the city, And of all who dwell in it. (Habakkuk 2:8)

For years, based on prophecies like the above, I have written that civil unrest would come to the USA. I expect more civil unrest in the USA in the future.

In my view, some protesters and some in the government turn too quickly to violence. And that does not bode well for various ones in the USA.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

God’s Grace is For All Is being Jewish a hindrance to salvation? What about not being a descendant of Israel? What does the Bible really teach? Here is a link to a related sermon titled Race and Grace; Do you view race as God does?
Military Service and the Churches of God: Do Real Christians Participate in Carnal Warfare or Encourage Violence? Here are current and historical perspectives on a matter which show the beliefs of the true church on military participation. Is war proper for Christians? A related sermon would be: Christians, Violence, and Military Service.
Christian Soldiers How are Christians to be like soldiers? How are they to be different?
Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel Are the Americans, Canadians, English, Scottish, Welsh, Australians, Anglo-Saxon (non-Dutch) Southern Africans, and New Zealanders descendants of Joseph? Where are the lost ten-tribes of Israel? Who are the lost tribes of Israel? What will happen to Jerusalem and the Jews in Israel? Will God punish the U.S.A., Canada, United Kingdom, and other Anglo-Saxon nations? Why might God allow them to be punished first? Here is a link to the Spanish version of this article: Anglo-América & las Tribus Perdidas de Israel. Information is also in the YouTube sermons titled Where are the Ten Lost Tribes? Why does it matter? and British are the Covenant People. A short YouTube of prophetic interest may be Barack Obama and the State of the Apocalypse.
Will the Anglo-Saxon Nations be Divided and Have People Taken as Slaves? Will the lands of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand be divided? What about Jerusalem? What does Bible prophecy teach? Are there non-biblical prophecies that support this idea? Who will divide those lands? Who will end up with the lands and the people? Here is a link to a video titled Will the USA and other Anglo-nations be Divided and Their People Made Slaves? Here is a related item in the Spanish language ¿Serán divididas las naciones anglosajonas?
The Ten Commandments Reflect Love, Breaking them is Evil Some feel that the ten commandments are a burden. Is that what Jesus, Paul, Peter, James, and John taught?
Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States-Second Edition for Second Obama Term This is a 160 page book for people truly interested in prophecies related to Barack Obama and the United States, including learning about many that have already been fulfilled (which the book documents in detail) and those that will be fulfilled in the future. It also has a chapter about a Republican choice. This book is available to order at www.barackobamaprophecy.com. The physical book can also be purchased at Amazon from the following link: Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States: Is Barack Obama Fulfilling Biblical, Islamic Catholic, Kenyan, and other America-Related Prophecies? What About Republican Leaders? Second Edition for Second Obama Term.
Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States-Second Term-Amazon Kindle edition. This electronic version is available for only US$2.99. And you do not need an actual Kindle device to read it. Why? Amazon will allow you to download it to almost any device: Please click HERE to download one of Amazon s Free Reader Apps. After you go to for your free Kindle reader and then go to Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States-Second Term-Amazon Kindle edition.