2,000 Protesters March In Smithtown; Several Roads Closed

SMITHTOWN, NY — Protesters gathered in Smithtown on Tuesday evening to support the Black Lives Matter movement and advocate against police brutality. Roughly 2,000 people protested, Suffolk police said. The march began 6 p.m. at the Smithtown Train Station.

Protesters marched and chanted "No peace!", "Black Lives Matter!", "F--- Donald Trump!", "No more racists!", "George Floyd!", "I can't breathe!", and "Hey hey! Ho ho! Racist cops have got to go!"

Some protesters jumped in front of cars heading east on Veterans Memorial Highway, according to Smithtown Public Safety.

Numerous roads in the area were shut down throughout the protest, according to Smithtown Public Safety. Main Street, East Main Street, River Road, Route 347, Brooksite Drive, Veterans Memorial Highway, Jericho Turnpike and Old Willets Path all experienced closures. Drivers were urged to avoid the general area of the protests.

Only a small group of protesters remained on Main Street by 10:40 p.m., according to Smithtown Public Safety, which noted they remained "orderly."

The protesters had returned to Smithtown on Tuesday after another march held Sunday was met with counterprotesters, a couple of whom used racial slurs. No arrests were made at either Smithtown protest, though Suffolk police are investigating a harassment and assault report filed by two men after an altercation Sunday.

A man was arrested Tuesday after police say he threw bricks through the windows of two Smithtown businesses, though police said it didn't appear to be related to the protest.

Most the protests on Long Island have been peaceful. Counterprotesters also clashed with protesters in Merrick last week. Some residents yelled "Go west!", urging the protesters to head toward Freeport, which has a diverse population.

In West Babylon, a man was arrested after he drove his truck toward a teen protester last week, police said. The teen told police the man had yelled, "White lives matter. You don't belong here. Get out of my neighborhood."

Nearly a dozen protesters were arrested and two police officers were injured over the weekend during demonstrations in Merrick. Officers stopped protesters from marching on the Meadowbrook Parkway, leading to clashes.