SACRAMENTO — The California Highway Patrol (CHP) has been coordinating to protect the safety of everyone involved in a First Amendment activity on Coast Guard Island in Alameda. Our goal is to ensure participants could express their views safely while keeping nearby roadways clear for emergency vehicles and other traffic. Earlier today, CHP Commissioner Sean Duryee met with Coast Guard leadership and together they coordinated efforts to ensure the safety of Coast Guard personnel and the public exercising their First Amendment right.
On Thursday, CHP officers immediately opened a respectful dialogue with participants to set clear expectations about staying out of the roadway and avoiding unsafe behavior. Officers worked to balance the right to express their opinion with the need to maintain public safety. During this time, officers closely monitored the area for signs of rising tension or potential conflict.
Once the situation appeared calm and the roadway was open, CHP officers cleared the area.
Late Thursday night after CHP personnel left, there was an act of violence that not only placed members of the U.S. Coast Guard, but also the public, at risk. The CHP does not tolerate violence toward any law enforcement personnel.
Coast Guard personnel were not injured during the incident. Shortly after, CHP personnel located the suspect vehicle abandoned nearby on Dennison Street north of Embarcadero.
The FBI is leading the ongoing investigation, and further questions should be directed to that agency.
The mission of the CHP is to provide the highest level of Safety, Service, and Security to everyone in California.