Hundreds of protesters gathered at the Campagnone Common in Lawrence on Sunday afternoon, June 7, during a City-sponsored rally honoring George Floyd, a 46-year-old black man whose murder by a police officer in Minneapolis has sparked protests at the local, national and international levels, and calls for real change, justice and police reform.
People from different ethnic groups and backgrounds attended the demonstration with posters such as “Black Lives Matter”, “Stand Up Against Racism”, “No Justice-No Peace”, “Vote” and other creative messages.
It was notable that most of the attendees were young men who appeared to be in their 15-25 years.
Organizers asked the crowd for a moment of silence, kneeling down, for exactly 8 minutes and 46 seconds, the time that Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin placed one knee on Floyd’s neck as the man called for his dead mother and screamed “I can’t breathe”.
Police Chief Roy Vasque addressed the group highlighting the advances that have been occurring in the department. He said that relations between the police and the community improve when the community is reflected in the institution.
The applause was swift when Vasque added that with the next graduates of the academy for the first time, the majority of the official members of the Lawrence Police will be from ethnic minorities.
The event was sponsored by Mayor Rivera’s office and the Lawrence Police Department. At the end of the event, the crowd dissolved peacefully.
Amid rumors that some looters might come to Lawrence to cause trouble, as a preventive measure, dozens of local businesses protected their fronts with sheets of pressed wood.
As night fell, a small group gathered on Lowell Street on the corner to Hampshire. According to the police, they had conversations with some of the protesters, until one of them, Paul Coelho, 41, jumped over the barrier surrounding the police station, while throwing projectiles at the police.
Eleri Dume-Morillo, 25, was arrested jointly with Coelho. Both were charged with assault charges, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct, police reported.
We were able to see that the Lawrence Police were assisted by motorized officers, patrols and bicycles from Methuen, Andover, North Andover and Concord. I do not know if other agents from neighboring towns also provided mutual assistance.
