‘We want change’: KC police met with some opposition at Plaza; Chief says no plan to resign

Police officers who participated in the “Unity March” were met with some counter protesters who expressed doubts of the motives of the march and of police Wednesday.

The march started early in the evening near Southmoreland Park and headed west to Mill Creek Park in Kansas City, where protesters turned out for a sixth day to protest the deaths of black Americans in police custody and call for change within law enforcement.

Those who participated in the march to Mill Creek Park were met with some resistance with protesters blocking the street and chanting “We don’t just want justice, we want change.” Then they let the marchers through.

Hundreds of protesters had already been convened in the park.

Conversations between the police officers and protesters were soon underway. Tents were set up on the street to the south of the J.C. Nichols Memorial Fountain where police, including Chief Rick Smith, were talking to protesters. Shortly before meeting with protesters, Smith announced to the crowd that some funding has been secured for police officers to receive body cameras, something many have said they would like to see.

Conversations became heated at time as some people demanded answers from officers. One officer was heard telling a man he couldn’t “speak or speculate” on the actions of other officers. But, the officer was heard saying, “If I didn’t care, I wouldn’t have sat in this chair number one. Number two, if I didn’t care, I wouldn’t have showed up and marched down here.”

Across the table, the man told the officer he commended the officer for sitting down with him.

Though not all protesters seemed pleased with the arrangement as others chanted “Fire Chief Smith!” Earlier in the day, some civil rights groups, including the Urban League of Greater Kansas City, the NAACP’s Kansas City branch, and More2, called for the resignation of Kansas City Police Chief Rick Smith, citing a lack of confidence in his handling of fatal police shootings of African American men, and allegations of excessive use of force by the department.

Smith told reporters he has no intention of resigning and knew nothing about the groups calling for his resignation.

“I think I have an important job to do, I love my job, I’m dedicated to doing it and serving the city,” Smith said.

Another police officer was seen walking away after demonstrators began arguing amongst themselves. One yelled, asking her to talk about the death of Cameron Lamb, a black man who was shot and killed by police in December. At the same time, another demonstrator tried to ask the same officer about marching in the streets. Others stepped in, pleading with the group, telling them to let the officer talk.

Seana Young told demonstrators not to shake hands with police Wednesday night, viewing the ‘Unity March’ as “propaganda.” She said action is necessary. “You don’t shake hands with your oppressor,” she said.

Justice Horn, one of the organizers of the counter protest Wednesday, said he came out to the Country Club Plaza because he feels the community is still hurting.

“But what we want is not a Kumbaya moment, not a picture moment,” Horn said. “We want actual policy change.”

He pointed to demands, including body cameras for officers, a community review board and ending the use of tear gas on protesters. After the police chief announced that body cameras would be purchased for the department, Horn said it showed him “we’re not doing this in vain.”

“Progress is going to come with some suffering, but at the same time, (it) is going to come,” he said. “We just want a safer community.”

After a few hours, protesters began marching north to Westport, where many took a knee. Some talked about continuing the protests Friday at City Hall. After a while, they began marching south, back to the Plaza, where they went through some police tape. Dozens of police officers were seen lining up. For several minutes, the crowd chanted, including “Black lives matter.” Many turned around and moved back after a few minutes.

Wednesday’s events follow demonstrations that have been held since Friday at the Plaza.

On Tuesday, protests were mostly calm as police said they worked to de-escalate tension and protesters urged one another to stay peaceful.

It was a difference from previous nights when police deployed pepper spray and tear gas. While “minimal deployments” of pepper spray had been used at times on Tuesday, the Kansas City Police Department said on Twitter, no tear gas was used.

Twenty-five people were arrested during the demonstrations Tuesday, most related to people remaining in the road when police told them to move, according to Sgt. Jacob Becchina, a Kansas City police spokesman.

Since last week, protests sparked by the death of George Floyd, a black man who died after a white Minneapolis police officer kneeled on his neck during an arrest for nearly nine minutes, have been held across the country.

That officer, Derek Chauvin, has since been charged, and is now facing an upgraded charge of second-degree murder, prosecutors announced Wednesday.

The Minnesota attorney general’s office also announced Wednesday that three more officers who were there at the time of Floyd’s arrest have been charged with aiding and abetting a murder: J Alexander Kueng, 26, Thomas Kiernan Lane, 37, and Tou Thao, 34.

All four were fired last week.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. Star reporters Glenn E. Rice and Anna Spoerre also contributed.

This story was originally published June 3, 2020 at 8:44 PM.