Why police tore down Minneapolis Black Lives Matter protest camp
Police forcibly removed protesters outside the Minneapolis Police Department's 4th precinct, citing safety concerns after Black Lives Matter demonstrators failed to leave voluntarily.
Minneapolis Police make their way around the 4th Precinct after they cleared the protestors and their encampment early, Thursday, Dec. 3, 2015 in Minneapolis. Demonstrators gathered at the site since the Nov. 16 death of 24-year-old Jamar Clark following a confrontation with police a day earlier.
Elizabeth Flores/Star Tribune/AP
Early on Thursday morning police cleared a protest camp outside the 4th precinct headquarters of the Minneapolis Police Department, where Black Lives Matter demonstrators had been stationed since shortly after the Nov. 15 shooting of a 24-year-old African-American man, Jamar Clark.聽
A federal investigation is underway to determine if Mr. Clark was handcuffed at the time he was shot in the head by a white police officer. Clark was supposedly interfering with paramedics who were trying to help Clark's girlfriend, but video聽surveillance聽of the scene has not been聽released. Clark died from his injury Nov. 16.聽
Given a ten-minute warning early Thursday, some 50 protesters were told to leave and city dump trucks were employed to remove tents and supplies. The eviction notice said that while 鈥減eople have the right to peacefully demonstrate or protest,鈥� structures and fires are not allowed on city property in accordance with Minnesota law.
Police removed the barricades blocking the street in front of the precinct, but put up a fence to keep people off the lawn in front of the station. Eight protesters were arrested, seven for 鈥溾�� and one for trespassing, reported ABC News. 聽
The forcible eviction came two days after city officials asked the group to leave 鈥渂ecause it was by blocking Plymouth Avenue and creating smoke from the fires used to keep demonstrators warm.鈥� The move also likely stems from a Wednesday evening City Council public safety committee meeting, during which the council allowed the public to voice concerns.
"I do want to make notice to future protests that we will continue to support and facilitate your First Amendment rights and freedom of speech,鈥� Police Chief Janee Harteau told reporters. 鈥淏ut, we will also of the city of Minneapolis and the laws of the state of Minnesota."
Though the rest of the protesters left peacefully, the Minneapolis chapter of Black Lives Matter immediately calling for a rally at City Hall.
鈥淎t 3:45 a.m. this morning, Minneapolis Police violently evicted the鈥� #鈥�4thPrecinctShutDown鈥� and tore apart the camp after 18 days of a 24/7 peaceful vigil. Today at 4pm we will converge on City Hall in response to our Mayor and City Council's continued brutality against peaceful protesters who have endured a white supremacist terrorist attack, police violence, and freezing temperatures to demand justice for Jamar Clark.鈥�
The accompanying picture included the phrase 鈥淲e ready! We coming!鈥�
The group says their demands remain the same: release of the video surveillance, appointment of a special prosecutor without a grand jury for Mr. Clark鈥檚 case, and 鈥渁 safety plan to protect Minneapolis residents from .鈥�
But Minneapolis Mayor Betsy Hodges it was time for the protesters to disperse, despite the fact the demands have not yet been met.
"We have been of the precinct with the right for people to protest and have their voices be heard," she said at a news conference.