Law Enforcement Braces For More Protests; 3 Arrested Thursday

CLEARWATER, FL — Tampa Bay law enforcement officers are bracing for a second weekend of protests as simmering resentment over police brutality, inequality and social injustice continues to boil over.

On Thursday night, Tampa Police arrested three more protesters in downtown Tampa for battery on law enforcement officers and inciting a riot.

While the death of George Floyd may have been the catalyst for the nationwide protests, Chaikirah Parker, spokesman for Black Lives Matter Tampa, said police brutality is not an isolated incident.

"Institutional systemic racism disproportionately targets African Americans which leads to the killings by law enforcement," Parker said.

To vocalize those concerns, Black Lives Matter will host a Tampa Rally Against Police Brutality Saturday from 3 to 7 p.m. at Fred Ball Park, 2621 Bayshore Blvd., Tampa.

"Police officers vow to provide services to the community with integrity, honesty and professionalism," said Chaikirah. "Our community is harmed and terrorized when that contract is broken repeatedly and without recourse."

On Saturday, he said protesters will call for the demilitarization of the local police force, body cameras, a civilian review board with the authority to review open cases, cultural sensitivity and de-escalation training for police and deputies, and an investigation into the use of excessive force against peaceful protesters Sunday at Cyrus Greene Green Park and Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park.

Additionally, there is an #ICantBreath #George Floyd rally planned Saturday at 6:25 p.m. at Largo Central Park, 101 Central Park Drive, Largo.

A Peaceful Solidarity Candle Light Vigil is planned for Monday from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Pioneer Park in Dunedin.

A rally organized by the Tampa Bay Students for a Democratic Society and the Tampa Bay Community Action Committee Saturday at Centennial Park in Ybor City has been postponed due to rain forecasts. It will be rescheduled in the near future.

Tampa Police said a protest rally Thursday night at East Scott Street and North Tampa Street turned violent, resulting in two arrests for assaulting a law enforcement office and one for inciting a riot.

According to Police Chief Brian Dugan, Tampa police officers were providing traffic control for a march shortly after 5 p.m. The protesters marched through downtown and then turned east onto Scott Street, heading toward the Interstate 4/Interstate 275 on-ramp.

Officers on the bicycle squad attempted to get ahead of the crowd, riding east on the north sidewalk of Scott Street, when police said a 17-year-old girl attempted to strike an officer on a bike by thrusting the metal tip of an umbrella toward his face. Police said she then attempted to strike a second officer moments later.

Additionally, police said Emadi Okwuosa, 22, used a bullhorn to incite the group into disrupting the flow of traffic on the interstate. And another protester, Stephanie Sanchez, 21, attempted to strike officers.

While making the arrests, the crowd became agitated and began approaching the officers. After being ordered to back up, protesters continued to approach officers aggressively and throw objects at them.

Police said one protester sprayed a fire extinguishers at officers.

Tampa Police used a "deterrent spray" to stop the crowd from advancing.

The teen and Sanchez were charged with two counts each of assault on a law enforcement officer. Okwuosa was charged with inciting a riot.

Dugan said, while his department respects the right to protest and will be on hand to ensure the safety of the protesters, "We will not accept any person who attempts to use the protest as an opportunity to engage in criminal activity."