Hundreds Turn Out For Bank Protest In Santa Rosa, 7 Arrested
SANTA ROSA (CBS SF) -- Seven protesters were arrested during a rally and march in Santa Rosa on Friday afternoon, police said.
Activist groups, including Occupy Santa Rosa and the D.R.E.A.M. Alliance of Sonoma County, led the rally and organizers received a permit for the march, which began around 1:30 p.m. near Sebastopol Road and West Avenue.
"Today was all about building alliances with the immigrant community," Occupy Santa Rosa protester Carl Patrick said.
Police estimated that about 200 protesters participated in the rally and march, while protesters estimated more than 400 people participated.
At 2:30 p.m. two protesters entered the Wells Fargo bank branch at 200 B Street and created a disturbance, according to police.
Petaluma resident Jesse Brown, 28, and Carolyn Epple, 53, of Forestville were arrested and booked into Sonoma County Jail, police said.
The bank branch then closed to avoid more incidents with protesters, police said.
Five protesters entered a Wells Fargo bank branch at 2960 Cleveland Ave. about an hour later. They were asked to leave and refused, according to police.
Police arrested Martin Olmsted, 21, of Petaluma; Kimberly Bringhurst, 21, of Santa Rosa; Deppin Webber, 43, of Rohnert Park; Anthony Delmonte, 34, of Healdsburg; and Julio Soto, 53, of Santa Rosa.
All of those arrested were booked into Sonoma County Jail and the bank branch also closed to avoid further conflicts, police said.
Patrick said all of the events Friday, including the arrests, were "totally civil and peaceful."
"The whole day was fairly calm and peaceful," he said.
(Copyright 2012 by CBS San Francisco and Bay City News Service. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
