Jamar Clark Protests Cost Minneapolis More than $1 Million: Report

MINNEAPOLIS, MN — Protests in response to the fatal police shooting of Jamar Clark cost the Minneapolis more than $1 million last year.

Clark was shot and killed a block from the Fourth Precinct police station in north Minneapolis.

Protesters, including a significant presence from local Black Lives Matter groups, responded to the shooting by occupying a section of Plymouth Avenue for nearly 20 days. Demonstrators set up tents on the street.

KSTP reported that police officers accumulated more than $900,000 in overtime during the protests, and total costs to the city exceeded $1 million.

"Those are real expenses that are borne out by tax payers and at some point we have to say, 'When is enough, enough?'" said Rep. Nick Zerwas (R-Elk River).

Zerwas introduced legislation last year that would make protesters civilly liable if they are convicted of crimes while demonstrating.

Read more at KSTP.

Image via Tony Webster, Flickr, used under Creative Commons