From Scott Appleby, director of Emergency Management:
Around noon today (Saturday) an organized and peaceful demonstration took place at McLevy Green. After some time at McLevy Green the organized protest was joined by others and moved to the Bridgeport Police Department on Congress Street.
Bridgeport officers maintained the front of the office building and exhibited restraint as the protestors chanted, and then became agitated and knocked down the barriers to the site and gained access by force to the exterior doors of BPD HQ. Officers did not engage protesters and returned to the building prior to the breach.
The protestors attempting to gain full access into the BPD HQ were asked to go back outside. The protestors refused that order, and were again asked to peacefully go back outside. Protesters forcefully moved further into the facility when BPD deployed pepper spray to deter breach into headquarters. The use of this tactic was announced twice with the request for protesters to exit before being disseminated.
There were no serious injuries caused by the spray and the individuals left the facility to return to the demonstration outside. Soon thereafter, the remaining group began to move to various locations and ultimately proceeded to the on ramp of State Route 8 (RT 25). At this point the demonstration was overseen by CT State Police. After an extended duration a large group of protestors began to exit Route 8 and proceeded back to McLevy Green to finalize their protest. A few remaining protestors stayed on scene and made their way back to Route 8. The Connecticut State Police remain in command of State Route 8 operations.
City of Bridgeport Statement:
We commend our Bridgeport Community for hosting a peaceful and meaningful protest today. Feelings of frustration & heartache are validated by what we saw, as to the need for change.
We are united on these matters.
It is unfortunate that some came to interrupt this show of community solidarity.
Bridgeport, CT is a city “up south,” meaning Bridgeport acts like a city in the south during 1950’s where blacks stayed in their place until they were asked to speak. The demonstration Saturday was because death of George Floyd on Monday after a Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for more than eight minutes while he was handcuffed, face down and saying he could not breathe. George Floyd is a symbol of so many other black men killed by the police for no justify reason. The white power structure and the community of America looks on as America is burning and they ask, why. They tell the black community to wait and be calm. Bridgeport had it’s George Floyd’s protest on May 9, 2017, 15-year-old Jayson Negron was fatally shot by Bridgeport Police Officer James Boulay on Fairfield Avenue. Now we have AJ Perez making a unbelievable comment, “We would have marched with them.’
Bridgeport PD chief: ‘We would have marched with them’
By Tara O’Neill Updated 10:38 pm EDT, Saturday, May 30, 2020
Later Saturday night, Perez described the protest in the city as peaceful overall.
“There’s a lot of anger out there. We ourselves are very upset,” Perez said of his department. “We would have marched with them if we had the opportunity … Bridgeport PD is not the enemy. We don’t like what happened (to George Floyd). We’re appalled.” Remember, the death of George Floyd on Monday after a Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for more than eight minutes while he was handcuffed, face down and saying he could not breathe. CNN journalist Omar Jimenez was arrested on live TV Friday morning at a site of protests in Minneapolis by state police, despite identifying himself to officers and asking where he and his crew should move. Well, remember this Chief Perez?
Hearst reporter detained by Bridgeport cops while covering protest
By Ralph Hohman Updated 7:17 pm EDT, Friday, May 10, 2019
BRIDGEPORT — A Hearst Connecticut Media reporter was briefly taken into custody Thursday night as police cracked down on a demonstration on the second anniversary of an officer-involved shooting that killed a 15-year-old city youth.
Reporter Tara O’Neill was observing from the sidewalk on Fairfield Avenue as a line of police officers ordered everyone off the street. O’Neill, who identified herself as a journalist, was handcuffed and taken in the back of a police cruiser to headquarters. After being detained for about 30 minutes, she was released without being charged.
“Tara O’Neill is a dedicated reporter who is well-known to Bridgeport police and police leadership. There’s no chance this was a case of mistaken identity. They arrested a reporter while she was doing her job.” What has the Bridgeport Police Department done since the killing of 15-year-old Jayson Negron was fatally shot by Bridgeport Police Officer? Mayor Ganim, what you and the Bridgeport Police Commissioners done and what reviews and changes have been made? Mayor Ganim what changes have you made to change the conditions in Bridgeport for the black community? Joe Ganim, you have not earned the vote of blacks because you have done absolutely nothing.
Police Denounce Police Brutality | New Haven Independent
http://www.newhavenindependent.org/index.php/archives/entry/police_denounce_police_brutality/#.XtPtx3KlLZM.email
“We would have marched with them”. Yeah right. Then why didn’t you? Why don’t you move into Bridgeport?-LIKE YOU SAID YOU WOULD and were supposed to. Yeah- like anyone EVER believed that!!!! He panders
like some of those who keep getting elected and then appoint their friends to jobs so that they can all collect the money and benefits off of taxpayers dollars.
Give me a break. This is just one example of MANY as to why we live in such a messed up society.
Cheers???????? Not !!!!!!!!
As American cities burn this is nothing new and some of the answers to address these problems 52 years ago and the and starting point was police shooting and killing blacks. Here is a little American history.
“Our Nation Is Moving Toward Two Societies, One Black, One White—Separate and Unequal”: Excerpts from the Kerner Report
President Lyndon Johnson formed an 11-member National Advisory Commission on Civil Disorders in July 1967 to explain the riots that plagued cities each summer since 1964 and to provide recommendations for the future. The Commission’s 1968 report, informally known as the Kerner Report, concluded that the nation was “moving toward two societies, one black, one white—separate and unequal.” Unless conditions were remedied, the Commission warned, the country faced a “system of ’apartheid’” in its major cities. The Kerner report delivered an indictment of “white society” for isolating and neglecting African Americans and urged legislation to promote racial integration and to enrich slums—primarily through the creation of jobs, job training programs, and decent housing. President Johnson, however, rejected the recommendations. In April 1968, one month after the release of the Kerner report, rioting broke out in more than 100 cities following the assassination of civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr. In the following excerpts from the Kerner Report summary, the Commission analyzed patterns in the riots and offered explanations for the disturbances. In 1998, 30 years after the issuance of the Report, former Senator and Commission member Fred R. Harris co-authored a study that found the racial divide had grown in the ensuing years with inner-city unemployment at crisis levels. Opposing voices argued that the Commission’s prediction of separate societies had failed to materialize due to a marked increase in the number of African Americans living in suburbs.
.Here is some American history of white riots against blacks.
“99 years ago today, one of America’s worst acts of racial violence took place in Tulsa”
https://youtu.be/x-ItsPBTFO0
The New York City Draft Riot, similar to the Detroit Draft Riot, was caused by the exemption clause of the Enrollment Act of Conscription and racial tensions between African Americans and white citizens.
https://youtu.be/mKoM22MvDwM
“Chief” Perez just says what comes to mind at the moment,he wasn’t qualified for the position to begin with,and he proves it over and over again.The only qualification Armando had was he is good friends with Joe and he knows alot of Joe’s secrets from back then.
God forbid the protests get violent in Bpt,we have a chief that would have zero control.
and no clue how to handle it.
I guess it had to happen sooner or later, but I totally agree with Rich Augustynowicz.
*** Till you’ve marched in their shoes, seen, heard, & experienced what they do on a daily basis, then assuming is just that, “a mire assumption”.*** The boiling pot of justice tends to boil over sooner or later as past history of in-justice has showed us over the years. Once again the death of a black american in the hands of 4- Minn. Policemen has stirred the conscience & anger of countless people throughout the world over the continued difference, in-justice and handling of people of color while in police custody. Though protesting to bring awareness, a voice, express anger & ask for real justice for Mr. Floyd & family is much needed. Crowd violence, property damage, looting, arson & the over all reckless influence & mindless criminal participation of out-sider’s from other towns, city’s or states is not & just takes away from the real meaning’s of the protest? *** Where are the political & community leaders during this un-rest, also civil rights activist, clergy, etc…??? ***JUST-SAYING***
The riots didn’t take anything away from the real message. The real message is that Black folks are tired of being murdered by white cops for doing absolutely NOTHING. Black folks are confused wondering what we DON’T have to do to get killed by the police.
We did the same thing in 1968 with the riots after the murder of MLK in over 100 cities and Internationally. Black folks needed a catalist for change and the murder of MLK did that, just as the murder of George Floyd did. Don’t downplay the usefulness of riots in the pursuit of righteousness for Black folks because it played as big a part as that nonviolent, turn the other cheek BS that was being preached at the time. People tend to forget that the Civil Rights Movement was bigger than just We Shall Overcome and nonviolent marches and that civil unrest was an equal and integral part of the Civil Rights Movement. Without the riots, without the destruction of white business America would have never understood that there were consequences to denying Black’s education, jobs, fair housing and just the basic tenets of the Constitution which said, “We hold these truths to be self evident that all men are created equal and endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.
Down-play riots? What real change has riots brought to the neighborhoods where people of color lived & worked? Where white racist groups dressed in black with gas type masks, weapons, etc. took video’s of setting fires & vandalizing property to then use it as propaganda for their racist attacks as to why whites should hate all people of color. Right now people of color have been trying to keep vandal’s out of the area where Mr. Floyd was killed from burning & looting cause its their neighborhood & community! Riots only hurts the poor that live in those areas hit, brings some news videos for stations & lots of political B/S talk, it don’t bring no real change. Most areas hit are not white areas of business or homes & down playing what MLK did & others during the civil rights era which also had anti-war & government feelings in the air, etc… for the so-called usefulness of riots is ignorant at best. ***
*** Try doing some research on some of the areas that got destroyed & burnt during some of the past history riots in different cities across america that were homes & small businesses used & owned by the nearby residents, black, brown, etc. Businesses moved out, homes were destroyed & property rates went down & brought cheap by big businesses that moved out the people from the communities & put up banks, supermarkets, parking lots, etc. Good family neighborhoods & schools were lost & small businesses gone behind your usefulness riots, that neither political & community leaders or clergy & civil rights activist, etc.. have cared to respond! ***
The 1968 assassination of MLK sparked more violence, forcing the United States to confront its most troubling domestic crisis since the Civil War.
The “Black Power” movement emerged, challenging the philosophies of non-violence and integration. Like the non-violent movement, this development had powerful historical roots. It originated in the violent resistance against slavery and continued in the outlook of major black spokespersons throughout the 20th century.
The injustices and indignities of racially segregated restaurants, bathrooms, and theaters have become a regrettable relic of the past, unlike the unprovoked murder of black people. The violent civil rights movement did not end America’s racial problems, but it showed that great changes are possible.
The philosopher H. J. McCloskey argues that “if violent, intimidatory, coercive disobedience is more effective, it is, other things being equal, more justified than less effective, nonviolent disobedience. To say that violent social demonstrations play no part or played no part in changing the fabric of America society, from education, to jobs, to housing and a myriad of others is absolutely delusional! Black and white people watched, no the world watched a Black man being lynched, but instead of a rope a cop’s knee was used to strangle the life out of this handcuffed Black man. America has only seen one other incident that elicited that much anger and that was the murder of MLK. Sometimes you have to take one for the team for the betterment of mankind.
For all the people that today ask, “why the riots?” MLK spoke to the riots. It is equally relevant today!
Certain conditions continue to exist in our society, which must be condemned as vigorously as we condemn riots. But in the final analysis, a riot is the language of the unheard. And what is it that America has failed to hear? It has failed to hear that the plight of the Negro poor has worsened over the last few years. It has failed to hear that the promises of freedom and justice have not been met. And it has failed to hear that large segments of white society are more concerned about tranquility and the status quo than about justice, equality and humanity. And so in a real sense our nation’s summers of riots are caused by our nation’s winters of delay. And as long as America postpones justice, we stand in the position of having these recurrences of violence and riots over and over again. Social justice and progress are the absolute guarantors of riot prevention.
Don, here is a question that for whites who are more concern about property than the life of black men so I ask white America when is the right time and the right place to deal with these problems so that we can solve these problems, again, just let us know.
*** This has past from being public protest over Mr. Floyds death & the over all continued negative treatment by police & the justice dept. towards blacks & people of color, to just out right lawlessness through-out urban city’s in America. Cowardness violence, looting, arson, along with property damage of well to do & poor areas. Unfortunately in the end B.L.M. will be blamed for all the bad that has happen, by right-wing media, maga supporters, white racist organizations & of course the new Trump Admin. & his supporters. And 10-yrs. from now when another generation will be having this similar debate over whatever other in-justice & riots will be happening @ that time. Those that are still around & remember, will look back & wonder if all past riots were really more useful in the end, than public peaceful protest? ***
Motto, here is a starting point about what you said, it’s all there, it has been research and document, National Advisory Commission on Civil Disorders in July 1967 explain the riots that plagued cities each summer since 1964 and to provide recommendations for the future. The Commission’s 1968 report, informally known as the Kerner Report, concluded that the nation was “moving toward two societies, one black, one white—separate and unequal.”
Martin Luther King Jr. American Christian minister and activist who became the most visible spokesperson and leader in the Civil Rights Movement from 1955 until his assassination in 1968, King is best known for advancing civil rights through nonviolence and civil disobedience, inspired by his Christian beliefs and the nonviolent activism of Mahatma Gandhi. October 14, 1964, King won the Nobel Peace Prize for combating racial inequality through nonviolent resistance. Think about this was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for telling blacks not to push back and fight police who were beating them and putting police dogs on them while firefighters were using high power water streams against while they were peacefully marching. America didn’t have time to listen to Dr. King. FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover considered King a radical and made him an object of the FBI’s COINTELPRO from 1963 on. FBI agents investigated him for possible communist ties. America set the climate and America killed the peace maker. George Floyd death is just a symptom of the disease of racism that America as never sought a vaccine of equal rights. Now America is seeing protest in every state but this time those marching are a large number of young whites and America is seeing a new movement who want real change because they saw like the whole world saw a white police officer put his knee on a black man’s neck while he’s on his stomach with his hands handcuff behind his back for 8 minutes and 43 seconds. America, wake up.
C’mon Ron, Mojo don’t want information, he merely wants to bloviate. He hasn’t changed one bit since his council days!
*** Usually, a person who expresses blind criticism has similar faults, to the person being criticized.*** Donald D. does not know me from adam, not before, during or after my Bpt. City-Council days! ***JUST-SAYING***