Hunter
09/01/20
Protesters led by the Iowa Freedom Riders marched from the Pentacrest Monday night, up Dubuque Street to near the I-80 interchange, where the Daily Iowan reports they were met by a large police presence preventing them from entering I80.
Marchers were encouraged to protect their identities by using umbrellas, face masks and other accessories to avoid potential arrest. An upside-down American flag listing the names of black people killed by police officers was held up during the protest.
To prevent further vandalism, the Pentacrest was barricaded and guarded by about a dozen University Police officers. They were also present at University of Iowa President Bruce Harreld’s house when the marchers showed up, preventing them from spray painting the structure.
The DI says protesters painted streets, sidewalks and university property again Monday night.
The Iowa State Patrol troopers remained mainly expressionless as marchers chanted “hands up, don’t shoot” and attempted to engage them.
The encounter lasted about an hour before protesters returned to the Pentacrest.
The Press-Citizen reports that an organizer for the Des Moines Black Liberation Movement, Matthew Bruce, spoke during the event. Bruce was arrested after the protest by University of Iowa Police. They say while at President Harreld’s home around 8:30pm, he pointed a laser beam light into the eyes of multiple officers, causing injuries which needed medical treatment. He reportedly ran when officers approached him, and they located him at 11:40pm. He faces nine counts of assault on a peace officer with intent to injury, and one charge of interference with official acts.