ANDERSON CITY POLICE. HE JOINS US WITH MORE. >> AS TENSIONS AROUND THE COUNTRY CONTINUE TO RISE, ANDERSON CITY OFFICIALS ARE SENDING OUT A WORD OF COMPASSION AND COMFORT. MANY ARE ANGRY AND CONCERNED. FOLLOWING GEORGE FLOYD’S DEBT AT THE HANDS OF MINNEAPOLIS LAW ENFORCEMENT. >> WE ARE ALL TRYING TO HEAL FROM THIS. EVERYONE HAS FELT THIS. LOOKING AT THE BIGGER PICTURE, WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER. >> FOLLOWING A WEEKEND OF PROTEST IN THE UPSTATE, THE ANDERSON COMMUNITY NOW LOOKING TO BRING THE DEMONSTRATIONS CLOSER TO HOME. >> WE DON’T WANT NO VIOLENCE, WE DON’T WANT ANYBODY LOOTING, DON’T WANT ANY FIRES. >> COMMUNITY LEADER REV. EMMANUEL DONALDSON SAYS IT HAS TO BE DONE RIGHT. >> PEOPLE ARE HURT, PEOPLE ARE UPSET JUST LIKE EVERYWHERE ALL OVER THE COUNTRY, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE WE’RE TIRED OF IT, THEIR TIRED OF IT, EVERYBODY IS TIRED OF IT. >> WE CANT STICK OUR HEAD IN THE SAND AND PRETEND LIKE RACISM DOESN’T EXIST. >> ANDERSON MAYOR TERENCE ROBERTS AGREES NOW IS THE TIME FOR ANDERSON TO SPEAK OUT AS LONG AS IT’S RESPECTFUL. >> I THINK IT’S IMPORTANT TH PEOPLE GET IT OUT AND THAT YOU HAVE DIALOGUE AND THAT YOU TALK. HOWEVER, I THINK IT SHOULD BE RESPECTFUL, I THINK IT SHOULD BE LAW-ABIDING. >> THE MESSAGE OF PEACE FROM ANDERSON IN THE FACE OF UNREST. >> AT THE END OF TH DAY I THINK WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO WALK AWAY WITH A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THESE ISSUES IS ABOUT, WHY THEY HAPPE AND WHAT WE CAN DO AS A COMMUNITY TO SOLVE THEM.
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Anderson city leaders send message of peace in face of unrest following death of George Floyd
Anderson Mayor Terence Roberts and Anderson Police Chief Jim Stewart invite use of free speech in wake of George Floyd’s death
Updated: 6:22 PM EDT Jun 1, 2020
Anderson city leaders are speaking out to the community regarding George Floyd’s death one week after the 46-year-old died in Minneapolis police custody. Floyd’s death has sparked unrest as both peaceful and sometimes violent protest occur across the country in response. Anderson Police Chief Jim Stewart says the department condemns the actions of the Minneapolis police officers involved in George Floyd’s death, and adds that the Anderson Police Department is here to protect and serve the people of Anderson. “Everyone has felt this, you know, but looking at the bigger picture we’re all in this together,” said Stewart. “We’re all trying to heal from this. It’s been a great divide in our country.”Stewart says that if large-scale protesting was to come to the Anderson area, the police department would respect the community’s right to free speech, but would ensure law and order is followed. Anderson Mayor Terence Roberts agrees, and says that Anderson should speak out, but do so respectfully.”I think it’s important that people get it out, and that you have dialogue and that you talk,” said Roberts, “Our country was founded on free speech, however, I think it should be respectful and I think it should be law abiding,”Anderson area community leader Rev. Emmanuel Donaldson says he is currently organizing a protest in the Anderson area, and is working with city leaders to bring the plans to fruition. “People are hurt, people are upset here, just like everywhere all over the country, because we’re tired of it, they’re tired of it, everybody is tired,” said Rev. Donaldson. “We don’t want no violence, we don’t want anybody looting, we don’t want no fires, we don’t want no bombs being thrown at police cars,” he added. “Of course we want to be heard, and of course we want to be seen as well, because it hurts. Everybody wants to be seen and heard as well, but there’s a right way and a wrong way.”
Anderson city leaders are speaking out to the community regarding George Floyd’s death one week after the 46-year-old died in Minneapolis police custody.
Floyd’s death has sparked unrest as both peaceful and sometimes violent protest occur across the country in response.
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Anderson Police Chief Jim Stewart says the department condemns the actions of the Minneapolis police officers involved in George Floyd’s death, and adds that the Anderson Police Department is here to protect and serve the people of Anderson.
“Everyone has felt this, you know, but looking at the bigger picture we’re all in this together,” said Stewart. “We’re all trying to heal from this. It’s been a great divide in our country.”
Stewart says that if large-scale protesting was to come to the Anderson area, the police department would respect the community’s right to free speech, but would ensure law and order is followed.
Anderson Mayor Terence Roberts agrees, and says that Anderson should speak out, but do so respectfully.
“I think it’s important that people get it out, and that you have dialogue and that you talk,” said Roberts, “Our country was founded on free speech, however, I think it should be respectful and I think it should be law abiding,”
Anderson area community leader Rev. Emmanuel Donaldson says he is currently organizing a protest in the Anderson area, and is working with city leaders to bring the plans to fruition.
“People are hurt, people are upset here, just like everywhere all over the country, because we’re tired of it, they’re tired of it, everybody is tired,” said Rev. Donaldson.
“We don’t want no violence, we don’t want anybody looting, we don’t want no fires, we don’t want no bombs being thrown at police cars,” he added. “Of course we want to be heard, and of course we want to be seen as well, because it hurts. Everybody wants to be seen and heard as well, but there’s a right way and a wrong way.”
