Update: Armed man removed from Plaza protest; police report finding bricks and rocks
Thousands of people gathered at the Country Club Plaza Sunday, intermittently breaking into cheers and chants, in a third day of protest sparked by the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
Along Emanuel Cleaver II Boulevard, a group of protesters kneeled before a line of officers and chanted “stand with us, march with us.”
One person held a sign that said “If you think it’s hard to breathe with a mask on try being black in America.”
Early in the afternoon, people began gathering near the J.C Nichols Memorial Fountain at Mill Creek Park. Some held signs for passing motorists to see, and many drivers honked their horns in support.
As the protest continued, large groups of demonstrators broke away from the main protest area, marching down Main Street while chanting “black lives matter.”
About 3p.m., a commotion was noticed near W. 47th Street and JC Nichols Parkway, as people moved into the street. A man who appeared to have a firearm was removed and led away by police.
Shortly thereafter, dozens of more officers moved into formation along JC Nichols.
At 3:55 p.m. the Kansas City Police Department posted a message on Twitter saying “learned of & discovered stashes of bricks and rocks in & around the Plaza and Westport to be used during a riot.”
It was unclear where exactly the objects were located or who they belonged to.
“If you see anything like this, you can text 911 and let us know so we can remove them. This keeps everyone safe and allows your voice to continue to be heard,” the message continued.
Eighty-five people were arrested Saturday night at Kansas City’s Country Club Plaza during protests over the killing of George Floyd that turned dangerous amid tear gas and fires.
Speaking to reporters Sunday, Mayor Quinton Lucas said while the damage seen in Kansas City was not as bad as in other cities, it was “more than we’d want to tolerate in this region.” Police officers and protesters were injured, he said.
“None of that needs to happen,” he said, calling on demonstrators to remain peaceful Sunday.
The protest went on as Kansas City imposed an 8 p.m. curfew for the Plaza, Westport and downtown business districts, pointing to fires, arrests and injuries during the protest the night before.
Speakers at the protest included U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II of Missouri’s 5th Congressional district, attorney Henry C. Service and Trina Dodson of Moms Demand Action, an anti-gun violence group.
This story was originally published May 31, 2020 at 5:37 PM.
