Peaceful Protesters Gather In Front Of Greenwich Police HQ

GREENWICH, CT — A peaceful demonstration comprised of over 100 protesters was held in front of the town's public safety complex Monday evening. The protest, sparked by the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis and deaths of other minorities at the hands of law enforcement, was captured in photos and videos which circulated over social media.

In a series of tweets Monday around 5 p.m., Hearst Connecticut Media Group photojournalist Tyler Sizemore posted photos and videos of the protesters making their way toward the complex while chanting "I can't breathe."

Greenwich Police officers can also be seen in a video kneeling in front of the door to the building as the protesters voice their concerns and chant "George Floyd." (To sign up for Greenwich breaking news alerts and more, click here.)

Protesters can also be seen in photos holding signs that read "you can kill a man but you can't kill an idea" and "not turning the other cheek," among other things.

In an email Tuesday, Lt. Mark Zuccerella said the crowd of protesters reached about 130 people at its peak. He also said both Police Chief James Heavey and First Selectman Fred Camillo met with the group of protesters and discussed many of their concerns.

The lieutenant also provided a statement from the department regarding the peaceful demonstration.

"We stand together in our outrage against those who violate the rights of any person, regardless of their personal or group identity," the department said in a statement. "We appreciated hearing all the voices and support the expression of all views in a peaceful manner. The Greenwich Police Department will always seek to join with those interested in dialogue about ensuring equity and fairness in the community. Our commitment as police officers is to uphold the U.S. and state constitutions—impartially and unbiased for the protection of every single person; together we can make a difference."

In a YouTube video showing part of the peaceful demonstration, Heavey can be seen speaking to the group of protesters and assuring them "social justice matters" to the department. (Warning: the linked video may contain expletive language.)

"We, as an organization, are always trying to learn about our biases," Heavey can be heard saying in the video.

Heavey encouraged anyone who feels they have been treated wrongfully by police to make a complaint to the department so they can investigate it.

"We're really trying to listen and communicate to you that this isn't just some kind of show and then we're just going to forget about it," Heavey said in the video, "we're here as your police department. You deserve a good police department, and we have a good police department."

According to the Greenwich Time, the protest, which was organized organically over social media, lasted over two hours and no one attempted to enter the building at any time.

Camillo, who was at the building for an unrelated matter and later met with protesters outside, voiced his support for the department and gave several protesters his cellphone number, the Greenwich Time reports. He also promised to make an extra effort to keep the dialogue going.

Over the weekend, peaceful protests occurred in a few communities near Greenwich, including Stamford and Norwalk.

See also: Stamford Police Show Support For Peaceful Protesters

• Peaceful Protests In Norwalk; Some Streets Shutdown

On Saturday, Chief James Heavey released a statement on the department's Facebook page regarding the department's duty and role within the community.

"The Greenwich Police Department abhors all forms of police brutality and any action that deprives the people we serve their constitutional rights or due process of law," Heavey said on Facebook. "We are sworn to protect each and every person, equally and fairly. We will always serve the Greenwich community without fear or favor. Our policies and practices are based on the foundation of constitutional policing. We obtain and keep our authority only by working with the people we swore an oath to serve. This sacred trust is the cement that binds the police and community. We strive for transparency and openness."

Heavey also encouraged anyone who feels there is anything Greenwich Police could do to better serve them to contact the department.

On Sunday, an employee at Binney Park reported someone had spray painted a message that read "#BLM" on the doors of the park's bathroom.

See also: #BLM Spray Painted On Bathroom Doors At Greenwich Park: Police

The hashtag typically stands for "Black Lives Matter" and has been trending over the past few days as protests have popped up throughout the state and the country.

Protests over Floyd's death began after he died while being forcibly arrested on Memorial Day by Minneapolis police. The protests later spread to major U.S. cities including Atlanta, New York, Los Angeles and now here in Connecticut this weekend. Fired police officer Derek Chauvin, the officer seen in a viral video with his knee of Floyd's neck, has been arrested and is charged with third-degree murder.

The deaths of Ahmaud Arbery in coastal Georgia, Breonna Taylor in Louisville, Ky., and Floyd sparked a movement for justice across the country. While protesters mobilized in Connecticut, numerous local law enforcement agencies and groups issued statements condemning the actions by police that led to Floyd's death.

Patch has reached out the First Selectman's Office for further information.