Lang
6/12/20
The group known as the Iowa Freedom Riders resumed their protests Thursday, this time marching from the Pentacrest to Coralville.
About 200 people gathered on the Pentacrest around 3pm, where they were addressed by Rockne Cole, lawyer for jailed Iowa Freedom Rider member Mazin Mohamedali. Mohamedali faces numerous charges stemming from multiple incidents during protests over the last ten days, as well as a probation violation stemming from a conviction after robbing the Mormon Trek Boulevard Kum & Go at knifepoint in 2018.
The group then marched west on Iowa Avenue onto Riverside Drive, then on to 1st Avenue in Coralville. From there, the group headed for Interstate 80 before being stopped at East 9th Street by an estimated 100 police officers and a concrete barricade. About an hour later the protest moved back to the Pentacrest. Another protest is set for 5pm tonight.
An Instagram post from the group says it resumed protests after a two-day moratorium because city officials failed to act on a list of demands the group shared with the Iowa City city council on Tuesday. According to The Daily Iowan, Mayor Bruce Teague and City Councilor Janice Weiner were among Thursday’s protesters.
The Iowa City city council plans to address some of the group’s demands at Tuesday’s meeting.