The smell of burning tires was inescapable, and the sound of protesters chanting “no justice, no peace” echoed down the vandalized avenues of downtown. This was no ordinary day in Salt Lake City.
What started off as a peaceful protest to honor George Floyd, a Minneapolis resident that was killed by the hands of police officers, turned violent in downtown Salt Lake City Saturday, May 30.
Salt Lake City Police Chief Mike Brown reported that 41 people were arrested during the demonstration.
In the long stand-off between police, that started around 3 p.m., Brown reported that 21 officers were injured. A curfew issued by Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall remains in effect until 6 a.m. Monday.
“I’m really proud of the young people that showed up today to stand up for themselves against Governor Herbert and his cronies,” said MJ Powell, a 21-year old native of Salt Lake City, from the steps of the Capitol.
Violence began when protesters overturned and set a police cruiser on fire near Library Square. Violence and vandalism spread throughout the city, including the capitol, which was tagged with profanity and anti-police phrases.
Already wearing a two month economy collapse, many downtown businesses fell victim to the forceful crowd, which left broken windows and graffiti stretching from the Library to Capitol Hill.
During a video press conference, Mayor Mendenhall commended the police department for showing restraint while dispersing crowds that reached close to 5,000 throughout the city.
It’s still unreported how many protesters were injured during the almost 10 hour riot, but medical aids were busy running through the crowds cleaning cuts, icing bruises, and hydrating those that needed aid.
Alexandre Uribe, a 16-year old Millcreek resident, arrived to Library Square with his friends after they heard there was a protest going on Downtown. He was shot in the neck with a rubber bullet fired by Salt Lake Police shortly after he arrived.
“We were outside the county building, around the block from the library, and I saw a cop wearing a shield come at us and start shooting into our crowd,” Uribe said. “He shot four or six times really fast into my group and I felt a sharp pain on my neck. If it were just an inch or two higher, I might be dead.”
After Uribe was attended by a medic who was patrolling the crowd, he confirmed that he was wasn’t leaving the fight.
“I’ve already been shot, why would I quit now” Uribe added.
Protesters were eventually removed from the downtown area around 11 p.m.
Mayor Mendenhall, in a video press conference, encouraged Salt Lake City residents to respect the curfew and not travel downtown. She also requested that those wanting to form clean-up groups to pick-up trash and remove graffiti to hold off and refrain from doing so.
Additional information is expected to be released Monday morning by city leaders.
Take a look at the Salt Lake City Riot through the eyes of our Publisher, Cole Fullmer. He started at Capitol Hill and ended at Library Square. View his images in the gallery below.
[foogallery id=”755″]
