Hunter
05/31/20
Iowa City mayor Bruce Teague led a crowd of demonstrators in an impromptu version of the Bill Withers classic, “Lean On Me.” It was one of several demonstrations and protests over the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis that varied from the peaceful to violent.
In Cedar Rapids, police report approximately 300 people gathering at the Hyvee on 1st Avenue and marching to the police station. Officers assisted with traffic control, and in a Facebook post, said “There are many people that are hurting, scared and angry. We recognize this and will continue to promote a safe community that respects the rights and dignity of all.
A peaceful protest was held in Davenport’s LeClaire Park, although there were reports of some vandalism in the downtown area.
Des Moines had a different experience last night.
Officers used tear gas to break up a protest and vandalism at the Polk County Courthouse. Live video from WOI-TV showed a small group of people spraying paint on the courthouse and breaking at least one window on the building’s first floor. Police arrived about 9:40 p.m. and shot tear gas about 10 minutes later, causing what appeared to be about 250 protesters to scatter. The protest Saturday night started at the Des Moines police station and later moved to the courthouse.
Similar incidents, both peaceful and violent, occurred across the country. We have several reports posted on our Facebook page.