"There were three or four hundred people on the sidewalk, perfectly within their rights to be on the sidewalk. We were illegally detained and we may bring suit against the city," said Mark Cohen of Recreate '68.

Cohen said those within the riot police line were calling family and friends on their cell phones, warning them they feared police were about to unleash tear gas."

"I don't know why else they would put on gas masks," Cohen said. "We had minors in there; we had older people in there. They were scared and I don't blame them. And there was no reason for this, no reason in the world."

"We've been peaceful the last two days," said activist Larry Hales. "[The police] are the ones who have escalated the situation."