Hundreds of protestors took to the streets late Saturday night in downtown Salem. They were protesting against police brutality and in honor of George Floyd. The protests remained peaceful until around 11:20 when a few protestors began to throw fireworks and other objects towards the police. The organizers attempted to force the instigators away from the protest, although this was seemingly unsuccessful.
The police, dressed in riot gear, responded with flash bangs and calls to disperse the crowd. They notified protestors that if they did not disperse they would be subject to tear gas and projectiles. The crowds remained and tear gas was released. The protestors retreated to the Capitol area where they proceeded to take a knee.
Around midnight, the City of Salem declared a state of emergency and imposed a curfew. Following this, the police announced that the protest was now unlawful and that if protestors did not leave they would be subject to arrest. An organizer told those assembled that “if you are here for George Floyd, you should go home.” Most protestors remained.
About twenty minutes later, the police began to move in on the protestors. They used tear gas and flash bangs in another attempt to break-up those gathered. The crowd dispersed and most protestors left.
Following the dispersion, police officers gathered at Salem Center after a small group of protestors were heard saying that they were going to loot the mall. There were reports of bricks being thrown at the officers around 12:40.
Prior to the altercation between police and protestors, the protestors gathered peacefully for hours. They marched to chants of “no justice, no peace,” “breaking stuff is not the answer,” “say his name, George Floyd,” “I can’t breathe” and “black lives matter.” They called society to address the racism in the police force, as well as, justice for Floyd and others like him.
Floyd is an African-American man who was recently killed when police officer, Derek Chauvin, knelt on his throat for a prolonged period of time. Despite Floyd telling them “I can’t breathe,” Chauvin continued to kneel, leading to Floyd’s death. Chauvin lost his job and has been charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter.
These protestors join hundreds of thousands of others demonstrating across the nation in response to the murder of Floyd, as well as the murders of Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery. Taylor was an African-American EMT who was shot when police entered her home unannounced while allegedly searching for a suspect who was already in custody. Arbery was a young, unarmed African-American man who, while going for a run, was shot by George McMichaels and his son, in early February. Arbery’s killers were not taken into custody until May, when a video of the shooting began to circulate.
Many protests elsewhere have turned from peaceful gatherings into riots, including in Portland, Eugene, Minneapolis, Atlanta, LA, and New York City. Buildings have been set on fire, including the Justice Center in Portland, and have been subject to looting and vandalism.
The extent of damage in downtown Salem is unknown at this point. However, there were graffiti messages written on the roads and the Capitol Steps. The windows in the glass structures on the Capitol mall were also broken.
Counter-protestors were present. People stood in front of various businesses with rifles, including Glamour Salon– whose owner publicly asked for armed protection. There were no reports of altercations between counter protestors and protestors.
