A.G. Gancarski
Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry resisted lockdown orders during the coronavirus scare, but this weekend’s civil insurrection forced his hand.
At 8 p.m. Sunday night, Curry tweeted, a curfew would be imposed until 6 a.m. Monday.
“Due to criminal activity that threatens first responders, other people, and private property Sheriff Williams and I have decided to implement a citywide curfew. Effective 8 p.m. today until 6 a.m. tomorrow I am putting a curfew in place for the City of Jacksonville.”
The curfew order comes after a second straight day of protests in downtown, with a heavy police presence laboring in vain to keep the passions of protesters and rioters in check.
Curry on Saturday evening did not commit to a curfew but did say he was “not going to let [rioters] burn the city to the ground.”
The curfew call came as a Black Lives Matter group was headed to Springfield’s Klutho Park to protest, shortly after the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office deemed the park closed.
“As of 5:30 p.m. today, Sunday, May 31, 2020, Henry J. Klutho Park (204 West 3rd Street) is closed to the public. Citizens are asked to stay out of the area as the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office works to maintain safety in the downtown area,” the JSO tweeted.
Downtown has largely been quelled, according to television reports, even as the curfew drops.
But Florida Politics was on the scene Saturday evening, as the scene turned ugly after the official protest wrapped.
The event, with thousands of people downtown at its peak, saw some crowd attrition as the afternoon grew late. But the folks who stuck around clashed with police, with a number of officers seriously attacked and one stabbed in the neck.
In turn, the police officers used tear gas.
But by Sunday evening, the crowd had been (as described by Anne Schindler of First Coast News) “squelched.”
10 comments
Sonja Fitch
May 31, 2020 at 6:28 pm
If a first responder is found guily and given a choice to retireThat is not justice! Arrest jso Retired mullens!
Reb
May 31, 2020 at 7:21 pm
The leftist, the black lives matter, the white guilters, are forcing a curfew tonight. The sooner that they are arrested and fined, the better. There is no appeasing these people. You have to fight fire with fire. If they want violence and destruction, then we have to fight back. Deo Vindice
Blemble
May 31, 2020 at 11:11 pm
Considering how the black Americans have been treated in this country, we ARE fighting fire with fire. You don’t understand calm explanations. You don’t respond to peaceful protests. What are we supposed to do to change the system that continuously treats black Americans as sub-human?
Chris Mcghee
May 31, 2020 at 7:24 pm
Sonja Fitch, what charges were ever filed against Mullens? Is due process only good for certain americans or all americans? What was Mullens convicted of? Name the charge? What was the conviction by jury?
I can’t find any info? What is his first name? I’d like to know the facts, since it should be public record. Should have been news too.
You understand the concept of innocent until proven guilty? The cornerstone of the legal system, a key right in the US Constitution?
When does a violent riot response solve anything beyond filling jail cells?
Spectre
May 31, 2020 at 8:12 pm
This riot may bring justice but going out breaking/messing with somebody else business and/or burning inocent cars etc will bring more hate to these people probably more death (so then they will be whining: black live matter again) just go to the source of problem (the police that did the killing) do whatever u need to do and call it a day. I guarantee u the next police officer will think twice for doing a false move against anybody else. doesnt that sound easier?
Frankie M.
May 31, 2020 at 8:27 pm
Seems like too little too late today. Overkill if you ask me. Where was this order yesterday when it could have made a difference? Lil Lenny clutching at straws.
Reb
May 31, 2020 at 9:53 pm
Frankie M., you are just like all the people who complain about President Trump. Mayor Curry could cure cancer and you would find something wrong. If it wasn’t for people like you Frankie M. there would not have to be a curfew, you are the problem and those like you.
Paul
May 31, 2020 at 11:50 pm
The real question is when is the Mayor and Sheriff going to make a public statement about the national events causing these protests? Are they going to make a committment that there will be no racist cops in our police department? There silence is telling but it could be they are just terrible leaders and humans!
Pablo
May 31, 2020 at 11:53 pm
Oh look at the brave Mayor parading around in a police car during a curfew. He does not have the guts to face a crowd of local citizens that’s for sure.
Sonja Fitch
June 1, 2020 at 3:23 pm
Chris McGee. Go pull the records. Mullens is a domestic terrorist and a damn racist pig! Still even in his choice of retirement he harasses the black communities in Atlantic Beach ! Mullens is a damn bigot and criminal!
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