DETROIT, MI — Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan said that protestors arrested during the unrest in his city over the weekend came from as far away as Nashville, Tennessee.
Duggan condemned the actions of those who came to cause trouble while saying he believes the vast majority of protesters that turned out over the weekend were there with good intentions.
"…think about the person that drove up from Nashville Tennessee, more than 500 miles,” Duggan said. “How many police departments are within 500 miles of Nashville that have a whole lot more troubled history than anything here? Is the motive really for justice and law enforcement or is it something else?"
FOX-2 Detroit reports that on Friday, Duggan said 65% of people who were arrested were not residents of Detroit. On Saturday, 75% of those arrested also did not live in the city. Over 100 arrests were made Sunday, most of those people also coming from outside the city.
Residents of Midland, Port Huron, Saline, Shelby Township, Piqua, and Ohio were among those arrested during the protests, according to FOX-2 Detroit.
“There is a small group of people operating here who are intent on initiating destruction and violence. “Duggan said. “They are very well organized with walkie-talkies and commands. They’ve got supply vehicles bringing them rocks and bottles and fireworks to shoot at the police.”
Duggan said that when the city starts seeing higher levels of arrests from outside the city and the state that “I have to act.”
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