APPLETON, WI (WTAQ) – Peaceful protests are continuing in downtown Appleton this evening.
Police in Appleton have been supportive of citizens joining together to issue a message for change. They say the main goal for their department is safety.
“We want everyone to be safe. So our focus has been, and will continue to be, that we want people to be safe. And to – just like this weekend – we commended the organizers for doing such a great job and having people be peaceful,” says Officer Meghan Cash, “We support that community message we’re going to continue to support the community message however we can…We’re going to continue to support that in however we can keep that safe.”
Facebook Live videos show demonstrators talking to police officers who are at Houdini Plaza, keeping an eye on the situation. Mayor Jake Woodford even took the megaphone to address the crowd around 5:45 p.m.
“It’s great to see that support that we saw of just citizens coming out and being able to be a community and get that message out for change,” Cash says.
So far, she says everything has gone well. Police even spoke with organizers before the demonstrations began.
“We’ve been able to talk to two different organizers over the last couple days, and had those conversations before the demonstrations even began,” Cash tells WTAQ News, “That dialogue that we continue to have is, I think, really important – and it’s something that we want to continue to have with our community so that we can see those changes throughout the country as well.”
No arrests were made over the weekend, and while police hope that remains the case – they will address any actions that may risk the safety of other people.
“There were a handful of people that were agitators to the crowd that we are aware of, and if it becomes a safety issue where we are concerned about the safety of individuals in our community, we’re going to have to address those concerns,” Cash says, “We are not going to tolerate people who are going to physically agitate or go to threats towards anybody. That’s not something we’re going to be able to allow to happen…A person in particular, or if there is a group of people who are not there for the overall message within the group, we’re going to have to address that group specifically.”
Hundreds of people filled the plaza during Sunday’s protest, and tonight is expected to see a similar turnout.
