CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (KFVS) - Police say no arrests were made and the crowd was peaceful at a protest and march on Sunday, May 31.
According to Sgt. Joey Hann with the Cape Girardeau Police Department, there was a small group that dumped some white paint on the road on the north side of Capaha Park; however, those responsible left before police arrived.
He said the largest issue was the “spontaneous” decision of the crowd to march in the center of the road from West End to Water Street, but they were able to detour vehicles to keep protesters from being hit.
“For the most part, the crowd was very peaceful and exercised their constitutional rights without incident,” Sgt. Hann said.
The protest started at Capaha Park, where it spread to the neighboring intersection.
About 100 to 150 protesters marched down Broadway towards the Mississippi River.
Cape Girardeau Police blocked off the downtown side streets to protect the peaceful protesters from traffic.
Traffic was redirected.
Once at the intersection of Broadway and Water Street, there were speeches and chanting.
Then the protesters sat, and had a moment of silence for those who were victims of police violence.
The event was in honor of George Floyd, a Minnesota man who died after Derek Chauvin, a Minneapolis police officer, knelt on his neck for 8 minutes and 46 seconds.
According to the criminal complaint filed against Chauvin, 2 minutes and 53 seconds happened after Floyd became unresponsive.
Floyd was arrested after he allegedly attempted to use a $20 bill a deli employee suspected was counterfeit.
A video recorded by a witness showed Floyd repeating “Please," “I can’t breathe” and “don’t kill me” during his arrest.
At the end of the event, the protesters walked back to Capaha Park, and Cape Girardeau police left the area.
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