Peaceful protests across Mass. lead to dialogue between police and demonstrators, 2 arrests in Lawrence
Demonstrators in Chelsea, Boston, Cambridge, and Lawrence took to the street again Sunday, demanding changes to police and systemic inequalities.
Thousands filled downtown Boston Sunday while hundreds of others gathered in nearby Massachusetts cities and towns for protests, rallies, and marches honoring George Floyd and other Black Americans who have been killed by law enforcement.
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The demonstrations were peaceful as many demanded changes to police and systemic inequalities, and only two arrests were reported in Lawrence near the end of the night.
In Boston, a procession of three hearses in memory of Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery drove through the city, while in Chelsea and Lawrence, demonstrators kneeled in silence for 8 minutes and 46 seconds — the same amount of time former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin knelt on Floyd’s neck.
Student activists and community leaders also spoke at noon during The Movement Continues Rally in the Cambridge Common.
What a powerful and inspiring event @MBK_Cambridge Thank you for inviting me, and all of the other incredable speakers to speak! #MyBlackLifeMatters#AllBlackLivesMatter #TimeToDismantleRacistSystems https://t.co/s7xXno7Tqk pic.twitter.com/uTcJuaR4sG
— Ayesha M. Wilson Cambridge City Councillor (@Vote_Ayesha) June 8, 2020
Cambridge police took to twitter, quoting Police Commissioner Branville Bard after he spoke at the event.
“I want to make one request of you; and that is, please do not stop your peaceful advocacy until real change occurs,“ Bard said.
“I want to make one request of you; and that is, please do not stop
your peaceful advocacy until real change occurs.“ – Police Commissioner Bard at today’s peaceful #CambMA The Movement Continues Rally pic.twitter.com/tYoGP04M5Y— Cambridge Police Department (@CambridgePolice) June 7, 2020
Lawrence officers took part in the city’s peaceful rally near the North Common where between 250 and 300 others convened, police said in a news release.
As the event ended and the crowd fizzled out, police said a small group of protestors gathered along barriers set up adjacent to the Lawrence Police Station on Lowell Street.
Police said Chief Roy Vasque met with the group and engaged a peaceful dialogue before they left and later reassembled near the intersection of Hampshire Street, turning out about 60 people.
While police said officers continued to have peaceful discussions with the protestors, one person climbed over the barrier around 8:30 p.m. and approached the police line, throwing projectiles at officers.
As police arrested the individual, a second person began throwing projectiles at officers before being taken into custody.
Paul Coelho, 41, of Lawrence, is now facing charges of trespassing and disorderly conduct, while 25-year-old Lawrence resident Eleri Dume-Morillo has been charged with two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, resisting arrest, and disorderly conduct.
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