GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) — Green Bay police say they’re glad the protests over the death of George Floyd have stayed peaceful since a curfew was established Monday.
“It’s a calming voice in the community,” is how Police Commander Kevin Warych described it. “We understand that people don’t agree with it, but it really helps police officers really monitor what’s going on.”
The curfew was set after protests turned violent Sunday night, culminating in the looting of a Marathon Gas Station on Green Bay’s east side that ended with a clash between demonstrators and police.
The curfew largely doesn’t apply to people going about their legal business.
“It’s very important for people to know that people can go to the bars, can go to restaurants, can do their normal business,” Warych said. “There’s no restrictions. The curfews just for… gatherings in public places.”
Village officials in Ashwaubenon and Bellevue told some media outlets this week that suspicious out of state vehicles were seen scouting out retail outlets on Monday, possibly ahead of potential looting. Warych says there’s no sign that occurred in Green Bay.
“In the city of Green Bay all the intel that we’re getting is all that the protests, or any events planned, are supposed to be peaceful,” said Warych.
The nightly curfew will end Monday morning.
