The sixth straight day of protests in Little Rock ended without incident at about 10 p.m. Wednesday.
The protests were sparked by the killing of George Floyd by police in Minneapolis, but they seek to address all police brutality against black people.
Demonstrators, after leaving the Capitol area, marched a short distance into downtown Little Rock before turning back to the Capitol. They were closely followed by police vehicles.
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Around 9:45 p.m., an hour and 45 minutes after curfew, the group approached the Capitol again, but a line of heavily armed police blocked their way in front and behind. Officers told them the gathering was “an unlawful assembly” and to turn around and go home. A tense discussion ensued between a few protesters and officers, as the remaining group of demonstrators tried to figure out how to make their way to their cars, some of which were behind the police line.
Eventually, officers and demonstrators seemed to come to an understanding that if the protesters went directly to their cars, they would be allowed to leave without being arrested. The remaining demonstrators made their way past to their vehicles, and none could be seen being detained.
9:30 p.m.: Protesters chant in Little Rock march
Around 9:15 p.m., nearly all of the demonstrators at the Capitol in Little Rock, seemingly without any discussion, walked off the Capitol steps and headed east on West Capitol Avenue after a few individuals led the way. They chanted, “No justice, no peace,” and then briefly, “Hands up, don't shoot.”
9:18 p.m.: Protesters in Little Rock begin march down West Capitol Avenue
A woman in a wheelchair rolled up the hill on Capitol Avenue in Little Rock and began arguing with some demonstrators just after 8:45 p.m. Wednesday, after the 8 p.m. curfew took effect in the city.
At one point, she dropped a backpack, prompting police to search it before they returned it to her.
The woman continued to sit near the protesters, occasionally exchanging words with some of them.
8:38 p.m.: Protesters remain at Capitol as 8 p.m. curfew takes effect
Around 8:30 p.m., with the 8 p.m. Little Rock curfew in effect, the few dozen remaining demonstrators on the steps of the state Capitol raised their fists as several state police vehicles pulled up to the area of the steps.
After a few moments, the officers drove away.
8:08 p.m.: Protesters remain at Capitol as 8 p.m. curfew takes effect
A couple dozen people remained on the steps of the state Capitol after 8 p.m., when the curfew for Little Rock took effect.
The protesters were largely quiet, occasionally cheering as cars drove by and honked.
It’s now past 8 p.m., curfew in effect, and just a couple dozen people on the steps. pic.twitter.com/yXePZuRfVD
— William Sanders (@WilliamJr96) June 4, 2020
7:19 p.m.: Protesters thin out at Capitol
A crowd made up of at least a couple hundred people gathered at the state Capitol on Wednesday for another night of protesting against police violence after the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
But shortly after 7 p.m., demonstrators began to depart from the Capitol. Organizers using a megaphone urged them to return to their cars. Within a few minutes, the crowd had thinned out dramatically.
Several people with firearms were seen along the perimeter of the crowd, while volunteer legal observers wearing white armbands to monitor the demonstrations were also visible.
On Tuesday, 79 people were arrested and transported to the Pulaski County jail during protests in Little Rock, officials said on Wednesday. Twenty-eight other people were arrested for blocking a Broadway Street intersection earlier on Tuesday in an act of peaceful protest.
A much smaller group than 30 minutes ago. We are down to 50-75 remaining at the Capitol steps protesting. pic.twitter.com/yXePZuRfVD
— William Sanders (@WilliamJr96) June 4, 2020
7:08 p.m.: Protesters at Capitol kneeling in solidarity
Protesters returned to the Capitol in Little Rock at about 6:45 p.m. Wednesday and began kneeling in solidarity.
Several demonstrators have rifles and are on the perimeter of the group.
4:20 p.m.: Protesters return to downtown Little Rock
Little Rock Mayor Frank Scott Jr. and Police Chief Keith Humphrey reiterated Wednesday afternoon that they believe “outside forces” are at work amid ongoing protests against police brutality in Arkansas’ capital.
The officials said they have continued to receive intelligence about outsiders from Cody Hiland, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District, though Scott said he had not received any credible threats in the last 24 hours.
Though people — there were 79 in total — arrested by various agencies at a demonstration that defied curfew last night in Little Rock were from Central Arkansas, Humphrey said that was because the outsiders are organized and know how to evade police.
Scott also clarified that the 8 p.m. curfew does not apply to business owners. He said Monday that the city curfew does not apply to anyone traveling to or from work.
He said the city supports peaceful protests, but again urged people to respect the curfew.
“We will maintain peaceful protection and will promote and stand in solidarity with peaceful protesters,” Scott said.
Earlier in the day, more than 20 protesters gathered on the steps of City Hall as Little Rock saw its fifth straight day of protests, which were sparked by the killing of George Floyd by police in Minneapolis but seek to address all police brutality against black people.
People waved signs and took turns on an intercom speaking about unity and justice. One protester played Born in the USA by Bruce Springsteen on a speaker.
Scott will give the Little Rock Rock Board of Directors an update on public safety during a special-called meeting at 4:30 p.m.
Read Thursday’s Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.
3 p.m.
Little Rock Mayor Frank Scott Jr. will provide a 3 p.m. update on public safety. Watch the video here.
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2:44 p.m.
A combined police force monitoring crowds of protesters in Little Rock last night arrested 79 people after a window was shattered at a McDonald's, Gov. Asa Hutchinson said Wednesday.
Despite the arrests, Hutchinson said that Tuesday night's protests in Little Rock had been noticeably more peaceful when compared to the previous three nights, which saw police using tear gas and people breaking windows of businesses and starting at least one fire.
"It was respectful, even though it was in violation of the curfew," Hutchinson said.
Col. Bill Bryant, director of the Arkansas State Police, said that no crowd control measures such as gas or rubber bullets were used Tuesday night.
Both he and Hutchinson said the unified police command led by state police decided not to intervene as the protests marched toward the Governor's Mansion past the city's 8 p.m. curfew because the protesters were remaining peaceful. Upon return to the State Capitol area, however, one or more persons in the crowd threw a stone through the window of a McDonald's on Broadway Street, prompting police to begin enforcing the curfew and placing dozens of people under arrest.
"There's a certain element that once the nightfall hit, they're looking for an excuse both to destroy property but also to confront the police," Hutchinson said.
A list of those arrested and the charges against them would be made available later Wednesday, a state police spokesman said.
Everyone arrested Tuesday night was an Arkansas resident, Bryant said, and police seized two firearms.
Video captured by an Arkansas Online reporter Tuesday night also showed police detaining a group of protesters on a pedestrian bridge before letting some of the group go. The reporter was temporarily detained along with the group, before being allowed to go.
Two reporters with the Little Rock station KATV said they were also briefly detained on Tuesday, despite showing their press credentials. On Monday night, a reporter with the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette was hospitalized after being "struck" by someone in a crowd of protesters.
Hutchinson said that police are there to protect protesters as well as the press, and that reporters who show their credentials should not be detained or arrested.
EARLIER:
Gov. Asa Hutchinson will speak on the unified law enforcement response to the recent protests in the state at 1 p.m. Check back to watch live.
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