CLEVELAND, Ohio – Mayor Frank Jackson and police Chief Calvin Williams took questions for an hour at a telephone town hall Thursday, defending the police response to Saturday’s protests and riots, explaining the ongoing curfew and reassuring people about safety.
The mayor also made a point of reminding residents to continue following safety guidelines to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
The pair appeared in a forum where residents were able to call in with questions and submit others online.
Want more? Get insider texts about Cleveland City Hall on your phone from Robert Higgs, cleveland.com’s City Hall reporter. Sign up here. It costs less than 15 cents a day.
Much of what was asked surrounded protests that devolved into rioting in the downtown Saturday, and the city’s response since then.
Here’s some takeaways from the event:
Defending the police response
Most of the people at Saturday’s protest over the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police were there to demonstrate peacefully, Jackson said. He continues to defend their right to protest.
When some of those protesters attacked the Justice Center building, Cleveland officers move to help guard the complex, assisting sheriff’s officers, Williams said. Some people did get into the building, and were talking about freeing prisoners and starting fires, he said.
“With a prison population of over 1,200 inmates, that would have been a catastrophe.”
Officers were pelted with bricks and rocks, urine, water bottles (some frozen) and other debris for 10 minutes before the order was given to disperse the crowd. Police used tear gas, smoke and rubber bullets.
Williams said he was glad there were no serious injuries.
Evaluating the curfew
The curfew in the downtown area and Ohio City is set to expire at 6 a.m. Friday.
“Then we will review what is going on and hopefully we will lift the curfew,” Jackson said.
The mayor defended the strategy. Establishing the curfew and restricting access to the area meant police were able to deploy officers into neighborhoods and better keep the peace.
“We only had one night of unrest, and that is because we took decisive action,” Jackson said.
A protest on Tuesday was peaceful and it appears tensions have settled, Jackson said. Another protest is planned for Saturday.
Jackson warned that if trouble picks up, the curfew would be reinstated. “It will be done quickly,” he said.
Curfew violator arrests
Jackson said it is his understanding that those arrested in areas under the curfew were generally found to be breaking laws, damaging property, carrying weapons or ignoring several warnings from police that the curfew was in place.
Those who feel they were unjustly arrested should contact the administration, Jackson said.
“Anybody who doesn’t fit in that and got arrested, we want to know about it so we can follow up on that,” Jackson said.
Plea for vigilance
As many people have sheltered at home the last several months because of the coronavirus pandemic, crime has gone up in Cleveland. Williams didn’t provide statistics, but he encouraged people to be on the alert and report bad activity.
“It’s every Clevelanders responsibility to help keep us safe,” Williams said. “We need you to be a part of the solution. We need you to be vigilant.”
He urged residents to call about suspicious activity and submit video if they have it.
Don’t forget the pandemic
Jackson again Thursday reminded people to wear masks, wash hands regularly and maintain social distance as much as they can to avoid the spread of the coronavirus.
“With reopening the economy, the spread of the virus is more likely than ever,” Jackson said. “That is why we need to double down and triple down.”
More from Cleveland City Hall