March organizers distance themselves from vandalism, clashes with police

The demonstrations against police brutality in downtown Sioux Falls on Sunday had nothing to do with the violence and vandalism that took place elsewhere in the city later that night.

That's the message organizers and speakers at the "March for George Floyd" rally are trying to convey Monday after reports of violence, vandalism and burglary capped a weekend that was otherwise filled with peaceful protests in Sioux Falls.

"What happened last night had absolutely nothing to do with justice. I believe that’s an injustice in itself," Julian Beaudion told the Argus Leader on Monday morning.

Beaudion helped organize the march that started at Van Eps Park before moving to the Minnehaha County Courthouse and Law Enforcement Center, where it was supposed to conclude. He said it did conclude there. But a group of people on their own volition continued on, first marching up Minnesota Avenue and then west down 41st Street, eventually making their way to the Empire Mall parking lot.

More:TenHaken: 'There's going to be accountability for what happened in Sioux Falls'

As the sun set, the few dozen demonstrators who remained became increasingly confrontational with police. Rocks began to be thrown before reports of storefront and vehicle windows being broken.

As of Monday morning, only two arrests had been made, with at least one of the suspects having an out-of-state address.

Like Beaudion, Vaney Hariri, who spoke during yesterday's rally and served as an adviser to event organizers, hopes the community is able to separate the organized rally from the chaotic scene that unfolded. But at the same time, the aggression and anger that spilled over at the Empire Mall and the reason for it can't be ignored.

"When you feel like your community isn't yours, honestly, you’re much more likely to break it," he said. "When people behave like that, its because they don’t feel like it's their stuff."

The majority of the instigators captured on video committing crimes Sunday night were teenagers, according to city officials, some as young as middle-school age.

Mayor Paul TenHaken said Sioux Falls and parents "have failed" the juveniles involved in Sunday night's criminal activity, making it clear that more needs to be done both in the homes and the community at large to ensure what prompted those events doesn't happen again.

But violence and vandalism "does nothing to advance the dialogue in our city," TenHaken said.

"If you think you had an impact last night, you took two steps back," TenHaken said. "Now we both have work to do."