For the second consecutive day, protestors took to the streets of Salem, Oregon to call for justice for George Floyd and an end to police brutality. Floyd is an African-American man who was recently killed when a police officer kneeled on his throat for several minutes. Over 300 people joined in the protests on Sunday, May 31 in Salem. Like Saturday night’s protest, it remained peaceful until around 10 p.m., when a standoff with the police became violent.
People had been gathered on the Capitol steps since 1 p.m. and by 7 p.m there were roughly 100 people there. They were peacefully chanting “no justice, no peace” and “hands up, don’t shoot.” Cars frequently passed down Court Street honking in support and they were met by cheers from the crowd. The crowd more than doubled in size in the following hour, growing to over 200 participants.
At 8:45, the protestors began to march down Court Street. The police officers present remained at least a block away during this section of the march. The protestors stopped briefly to take a knee on Front Street in front of the entrance to the carousel. Following this, they marched up the Marion Street bridge on-ramp and stopped briefly again at the top of the bridge. Two police SUVs began to clear traffic below and advanced slowly towards the protestors. The protestors began to march down the bridge into downtown and the SUVs left.
The crowd returned to the Capitol a little before 9:30. They took a knee on the Capitol mall and began chanting “say his name, George Floyd.” Protestors then moved to the Capitol steps and returned to their knees for a moment of silence. A large portion of the crowd moved down onto Court St, in front of the Capitol, and laid on the pavement blocking traffic. The rest of the crowd gathered around them and began to chant “I can’t breathe.”
The protestors began to march again, until they reached Salem Center and stopped slightly west of the intersection of Center and High Streets. At around 10 p.m., police in full riot gear, along with a SWAT team vehicle, “the bearcat,” formed a line less than a block away. This marked the first direct confrontation between police and protestors of the night. Salem Police announced that the assembly was “unlawful” and if the protestors did not disperse they would be subject to arrest for disorderly conduct.
The crowd did not disperse and a small group of protestors threw things, including frozen and thawed water bottles, towards the police. The objects did not seem to hit any officers at this point. Police responded with flash bangs, a high frequency siren and eventually tear gas in an attempt to break up the crowd. A few other protestors tossed fireworks towards the police. However, most of the group retreated quickly to the Capitol Mall or left to return home.
Those left at the Capitol, equaling roughly 100 in number, took a knee blocking the roadway again. A heavy police presence remained, but they positioned themselves a couple blocks away from protestors.
At this time, the curfew was reinstated making it against the law to remain downtown if your activity was deemed “non-essential.” The protestors were not notified of this change by the police until later in the night.
Protestors began to march again, a little before 11 p.m., and a second stand-off with the police ensued. Police again told those gathered that the assembly was unlawful and ordered them to disperse. Some protestors threw things at officers, while others yelled at the police to “be different” and to “protect us [the protestors] for once.”
Police began to use the high decibel siren. A protestor placed a large firework on the ground between police and the crowd and others broke glass bottles filled with nails intended to pop tires on the ground between officers and protestors. Police then ordered those gathered to leave and began advancing their line. As the officers moved forward, they ordered both press and bystanders to move from the side of the road where they were gathered at least ten feet from the nearest officer.
The officers in full riot gear numbered over 25 and they flanked “the bearcat.” They were followed by eight police SUVs containing more officers. There was a heavy police presence in the surrounding blocks as well.
Police began to use flash bangs again and a couple canisters of tear gas. The remaining protestors returned to the Capitol, although most had left by this point. A couple of those gathered began to call for vandalism of the Capitol steps, however, the majority of the crowd urged them to remain peaceful.
There were a couple other minor altercations with the police beyond the two stand-offs, but none were as violent or as charged. The protest fully disbanded by 12:30 a.m. At least six people were seen handcuffed and in police custody at this time. Police announced on Monday that protestors threw bricks and glass bottles at officers during the protest.
There were a few groups of counter-protesters out, however, there are no reports of any altercations with protestors. The counter-protestors consisted of a couple groups of armed men downtown, who were positioned in front of business to protect them, similar to Saturday’s protest. There were also a few cars which would circle the block when the protestors were on the Capitol steps. One of the trucks flew a Confederate Flag, another had a “Trump 2020” flag and the third flew a “don’t tread on me” flag and left a large trail of diesel fumes in its wake.
Protestors are expected to return to the Capitol tomorrow.
