Kansas City police chief defends use of tear gas at weekend protests on the Plaza
As demonstrations continued for a fourth day Monday at the Country Club Plaza, Kansas City Police Chief Rick Smith defended the actions of the police department during the weekend’s protests, including the use of tear gas Sunday night.
Smith said a crowd of protesters Sunday was told the gathering had become “an unlawful assembly” before tear gas was deployed, shortly after an 8 p.m. curfew went into effect for the Plaza and other areas.
During a joint news conference Monday, Mayor Quinton Lucas said there would be no curfew Monday night.
Protesters could be heard chanting as officials took questions from reporters Monday afternoon. During their comments, Smith and Lucas also addressed questions about a video that has circulated on social media showing a protester pepper sprayed and arrested by police after shouting criticism at them.
Smith said he had not seen the video. Lucas said he has seen the video, and will review such situations.
“I believe in accountability,” Lucas said. But he added that he would not make a judgment based on a Twitter video alone.
Earlier Monday afternoon, about 30 people joined together at Emanuel Cleaver II Boulevard and Main Street, where they chanted “White silence is compliance,” while passing drivers honked. Some held signs saying “Black Lives Matter” and “Say their names” to protest police brutality and honor black Americans who have died at the hands of law enforcement.
Over the weekend, crowds gathered on the Plaza to protest after a Memorial Day incident where a black man, George Floyd, died after a white Minneapolis police officer kneeled on his neck for several minutes. The action was captured on a bystander’s video. The officer, Derek Chauvin, has been charged with third-degree murder and was fired along with three other officers.
As Lucas met with protesters Monday, police arrested a person nearby and the crowd grew angry. It’s unclear what led up to the person being removed from the area.
Afterward, at least one person was heard yelling to police officers. “You a coward,” she said. “You’re all some cowards.”
As the situation unfolded, protesters were telling the mayor they want to see more training, de-escalation and body cameras for police.
Lucas told the crowd he agreed.
“This is where we’re going to build it bit by bit to try to make it better,” Lucas said, indicating he understands the citizens’ frustrations. “Know that we and the city are trying to make a change,” he continued.
At one point Monday, Lucas, along with Smith and other police officers, took a knee and held a moment of silence for Floyd.
More than 150 people were arrested during three days of protests leading up to Monday that left people injured and businesses around the Plaza damaged.
Five people were arrested Friday, 83 Saturday and 63 Sunday, said Sgt. Jake Becchina, a spokesman for the Kansas City Police Department.
A dozen of those people lived more than one hour away by vehicle, the department said.
One person was arrested on a possession offense and four people were charged with stealing from businesses. The rest of the arrests were municipal charges associated with the protest.
The protest in Kansas City on Friday was largely peaceful as protesters marched for hours and chanted Floyd’s name.
Flames, graffiti and tear gas enveloped the Plaza on Saturday as the protests turned more dangerous.
Capt. David Jackson said protesters threw water bottles and rocks at officers.
Police responded by using tear gas to try to disperse the crowds. Businesses and buildings around the Plaza sustained damage, including broken windows and looting, Becchina said, and a police vehicle was burned.
Gov. Mike Parson declared a state of emergency and by early Sunday, the Missouri National Guard had arrived in Kansas City and Lucas had announced an 8 p.m. curfew.
Thousands gathered Sunday afternoon and hundreds remained at 8 p.m.
After a few protesters hurled water bottles towards a line of police, officers announced that the assembly was unlawful.
Moments later, crowds fled as clouds of tear gas filled the air.
For several hours, police and protesters faced off along Main Street. Police intermittently lobbed tear gas throughout the night. Protesters formed a makeshift barrier across Main and set a news van on fire.
About 20 officers were injured over the weekend, with two receiving more serious injuries that required hospitalization, Becchina said. Plaza businesses remained closed on Monday.
Lucas expressed disappointment about the course of the protests.
“The purpose of the night, of the day, of the moment is to try to address issues of community police relations, try to make sure we are looking at and addressing police brutality, try to make sure we are actually caring about black lives in our country,” he said Sunday during an evening briefing with journalists.
Destructive behavior wasn’t advancing that point, Lucas said.
“It’s not getting us anywhere,” he said.
This story was originally published June 1, 2020 at 4:35 PM.
