I think I mentioned that here we had a protest that the police had to disperse using tear gas. It started peaceful with a permit. It was supposed to end at 6:30 in the park. It moved at that time from the park to the courthouse. The police gave them an extra half an hour and then started giving warnings. Finally at about 8pm the police used tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse the crowd. A very vocal group is complaining about the use of force for an "unlawful" protest at that point. The protestors say they were agitated first by the police.
According the the police, there were about 20-40 individual passing out gas masks and milk. Its obvious that there was a group ready and according to the police that thats and indication to them that this won't remain peaceful.
Now tonight there is supposed to be another unlawful, unpermitted protest. We were supposed to have food trucks at the park tonight spread out for COVID19 but they canceled due to the threat of protest. One of the complaints of the protest is the use of force from Wednesday night.
So if I'm getting this straight, these folks want to "break" the law just to protest the use of force from Wednesday night. Really?
Can someone tell me how they can have a peaceful, lawful protest of 3000 people in the San Marco area of Jacksonville, FL, but here in little ole Huntsville AL we can't? The people after the protest in Jacksonville left after the event. That is the difference. There is a way to lawfully and peacefully protest without the use of force by the police. That occurs when people leave when they are asked.
According the the police, there were about 20-40 individual passing out gas masks and milk. Its obvious that there was a group ready and according to the police that thats and indication to them that this won't remain peaceful.
Now tonight there is supposed to be another unlawful, unpermitted protest. We were supposed to have food trucks at the park tonight spread out for COVID19 but they canceled due to the threat of protest. One of the complaints of the protest is the use of force from Wednesday night.
So if I'm getting this straight, these folks want to "break" the law just to protest the use of force from Wednesday night. Really?
Can someone tell me how they can have a peaceful, lawful protest of 3000 people in the San Marco area of Jacksonville, FL, but here in little ole Huntsville AL we can't? The people after the protest in Jacksonville left after the event. That is the difference. There is a way to lawfully and peacefully protest without the use of force by the police. That occurs when people leave when they are asked.