Oakland council supports hammer ban at protests

OAKLAND - The Oakland City Council has given tentative approval to a ban on hammers and other so-called tools of violence at demonstrations.

The council's vote in favor of the ban early Wednesday came more than two weeks after a waiter was struck in the face with a hammer during a raucous demonstration against the Trayvon Martin trial outcome.

The proposed ban includes hammers, wrenches and firecrackers.

The council must vote on it again in September before it can become law. Los Angeles already has such a ban.

Protesters smashed store windows and sprayed graffiti on businesses during protests over the acquittal of George Zimmerman in the fatal shooting of Martin earlier this month.

A similar ban was proposed last year during Occupy Oakland protests but it got nowhere after demonstrators claimed it would violate their free speech rights.