Watch: Tito Jackson spoke to protesters after a bottle was thrown outside Boston police headquarters
"They can’t change the stuff we want right now … That’s not the people who run stuff."
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When a bottle was thrown, Tito Jackson stepped in.
The activist and former city councilor addressed protesters outside Boston police headquarters on Tremont Street Tuesday night, urging demonstrators to keep the peace.
“I need y’all, every single one of y’all, — and this is not sexy — I need y’all to vote in every local election, not only this presidential election, alright?” Jackson said into a bullhorn, a moment caught on video by NBC10 Boston. “The people who are at City Hall determine what happens with the Boston Police Department. They determine the number of people there. Our budget is a values statement.”
WATCH: “That’s not the people who run stuff.”
Former city councilman @titojackson speaks to a crowd outside Boston police headquarters. https://t.co/IABNDkrHxL pic.twitter.com/u0AtAMmNt5— NBC10 Boston (@NBC10Boston) June 3, 2020
According to WBUR reporter Max Larkin, police outside the station took a knee, and a bottle was thrown over the barricade soon after the show of solidarity ended.
That’s when Jackson addressed the crowd, telling protesters he’s angry about the death of George Floyd, the Black man killed in police custody in Minneapolis last week.
He urged for a peaceful demonstration, and for those there to take their frustrations to the ballot box.
“All I’m saying is, the people who are behind us, as much as we want to think around problems, they can’t change the stuff we want right now … That’s not the people who run stuff,” Jackson said.
Jackson pled for a peaceful demonstration, while saying he’s as angry as anyone about deaths like the one suffered by George Floyd. Meanwhile, police wearing riot gear have rotated in as a few dozen protestors (and Jackson) stand by, chant and talk. pic.twitter.com/k5tRZOQDxu
— Max Larkin (@jmlarkin) June 3, 2020
According to Larkin, no bottles were thrown after Jackson spoke, and a cohort of bicycle police officers left the scene soon after.
There was a round of “F**k 12” chants, BTW; it’s not a quilting bee. But there’ve been no bottles since Jackson intervened—and a whole group of bicycle police cycled off shortly thereafter, with some wishing nearby protestors goodnight. pic.twitter.com/yJ28qRMs34
— Max Larkin (@jmlarkin) June 3, 2020
I appreciate those officers who knelt with us tonight. Only 2 stood officers (national guard) while we all knelt. It took leadership of a Black Woman Superintendent and I appreciate her for that and so did each and everyone present. #BlackLivesMatter
— Tito Jackson (@titojackson) June 3, 2020
Thousands of people peacefully protested against police brutality in Franklin Park earlier Tuesday night. Groups of demonstrators marched through the city after the event ended.
According to police, only two individuals were arrested.
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