Authorities Dispel Toms River George Floyd Protest Rumors

TOMS RIVER, NJ — While law enforcement spent hours preparing for Tuesday's march in Toms River to protest the death of George Floyd, authorities also were spending time dealing with rumors — rumors that turned up the level of fear in the community.

And more than 24 hours after the marchers kneeled with police and sheriff's officers and the prosecutor's office, rumors about violence — and law enforcement response — continue to circulate.

Authorities had three words for the rumors: They're not true.

Not the rumor that spread like wildfire on Sunday and Monday that antifa was being bused to town to destroy businesses. Not the rumor that buses carrying antifa were turned away. Not the rumor that Ocean County Mall was being targeted for damage related to the protest. And not even the rumor that police evacuated Target.

The antifa rumor started with a tweet by a fake antifa Twitter account, NBC reported. The report said Twitter identified the creator of fake account as the white nationalist group Identity Evropa.'

Screenshots of that tweet circulated widely and morphed as different names were attached to them in an attempt to make them look more local. At least three variations that circulated in the Toms River area were sent to Patch. One gave specific NJ Transit bus routes that allegedly would be carrying the "antifa" passengers. All three said they had been verified by Toms River police. That was not the case.

"We are aware of rumors circulating on social media regarding this protest/gathering and there is no evidence at this time to support those rumors," Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer said in a published statement on Facebook.

The antifa rumor that circulated in Ocean County had the same basic message as ones that circulated in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, which claimed outsiders would be bused in specifically to do damage. Sioux Falls Police Chief Matt Burns called it a "false flag," but the fears prompted businesses in the city to take precautions to prevent damage, the Argus Leader reported.

A handful of businesses in Toms River and Beachwood boarded up, too, in response to the antifa claim. Three in the Toms River Shopping Center put up plywood, as did five in downtown Toms River, and a pair of Route 9 stores in Beachwood. But there was no widespread boarding up of businesses.

The prosecutor's office response to the rumor didn't stop people from spreading the additional rumors, well after the march and the Route 37 demonstration had concluded.

Both the New Jersey State Police and Toms River police said the rumor that NJ Transit buses had been "turned away" from Toms River was false.

"We do not patrol the township," New Jersey State Police Sgt. Jeff Flynn said.

"No NJ Transit buses were turned away yesterday," said Jillian Messina, media specialist for the Toms River Police Department. "Our department did redirect the route due to it being temporarily closed for the demonstration."

Part of Herflicker Boulevard — which NJ Transit buses use to reach the Toms River Bus Terminal — was closed from about 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., along with Main Street and Washington Street, while the march was taking place. By 11:30 a.m., Main Street had been reopened, with police monitoring the crossing signal at Herflicker to allow pedestrians to cross easily.

Messina said another rumor that circulated Tuesday night, that claimed Toms River police had ordered Target — on Hooper Avenue, more than 3 miles away from the Toms River Shopping Center — to evacuate and close at 7 p.m., was false as well.

"There was no order for stores to close from the police department," Messina said. "Target Corporate made that decision."

As for the Ocean County Mall rumor, Messina said: "We have seen the screenshot circulating on social media and have identified some local juveniles as persons of interest. There are no ties to any particular organization or group."

Dozens of protests have been held across the country over the death of Floyd, 46, who died May 25 after a police officer kneeled on his neck for nearly 9 minutes. Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin has been charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter in connection with the death of Floyd.

Some of the protests have been turned violent, sparking fears in other areas as demonstrations have been announced. Many others, including a number of protests in New Jersey, have been peaceful and have been marked with a show of unity between law enforcement and demonstrators.

Floyd's family has called for peace and an end to violent protests. He asked if his own family isn't destroying things, why would others do it.

Peace was in evidence all day in Toms River on Tuesday. As demonstrators stood along Route 37 at the Toms River Shopping Center, waving signs and cheering as passing cars and trucks honked, a few motorists screamed nasty comments. They were ignored. As afternoon turned to evening, demonstrators disspated. Toms River police, sheriff's officers and several other vehicles sat in the parking lot, watching but allowing the group to keep up its demonstration.

As darkness fell, groups of two and three people departed, getting into their cars and driving off. By 9 p.m., just one young man in a rainbow-colored shirt remained. Just him, leaning against a utility pole, and a parking lot empty except for a group of four people — two police officers and two who appeared to be civilians — talking quietly.

Have a news tip? Email karen.wall@patch.com Follow Toms River Patch on Facebook.