kalamazoo _ What_s going on in kalamazoo now
- 4 years ago
#kalamazoo
1:30 p.m. - Proud Boys demonstrators arrive, violence begins
The Proud Boys arrived at Arcadia Park around 1:30 p.m., facing off with counterprotesters on Water Street in downtown Kalamazoo. The rally started with both groups shouting chants back and forth.
Within a matter of minutes, things turned violent. The initial clash lasted less than 10 minutes. During that time, multiple fights broke out, bottles were thrown, pepper spray was deployed and people used street signs as weapons.
Counterprotester Noelle Massey said she had to stand up against racism in her community.
“We’re here because our community can not have hate like this anywhere around and the fact that they felt comfortable coming to Kalamazoo, lets us know that there is a problem,” Massey said.
The civil unrest continued down Edwards Street, where the crowd met and a brawl broke out.
An ambulance was called and multiple people walked away injured and bloody.
Kalamazoo police officers arrived about seven minutes into the violence.
“Once we as law enforcement noticed or observed that it was no longer peaceful, we then began to establish a police line and disburse the large crowd from fighting,” said KDPS Assistant Chief Vernon Coakley.
1:45 p.m. - Police intervene
By 1:45 p.m., Michigan State Police had blocked off Arcadia Park and everyone was told to go home.
The protest spilled into other parts of downtown Kalamazoo. Police followed protesters around until things were peaceful
1:30 p.m. - Proud Boys demonstrators arrive, violence begins
The Proud Boys arrived at Arcadia Park around 1:30 p.m., facing off with counterprotesters on Water Street in downtown Kalamazoo. The rally started with both groups shouting chants back and forth.
Within a matter of minutes, things turned violent. The initial clash lasted less than 10 minutes. During that time, multiple fights broke out, bottles were thrown, pepper spray was deployed and people used street signs as weapons.
Counterprotester Noelle Massey said she had to stand up against racism in her community.
“We’re here because our community can not have hate like this anywhere around and the fact that they felt comfortable coming to Kalamazoo, lets us know that there is a problem,” Massey said.
The civil unrest continued down Edwards Street, where the crowd met and a brawl broke out.
An ambulance was called and multiple people walked away injured and bloody.
Kalamazoo police officers arrived about seven minutes into the violence.
“Once we as law enforcement noticed or observed that it was no longer peaceful, we then began to establish a police line and disburse the large crowd from fighting,” said KDPS Assistant Chief Vernon Coakley.
1:45 p.m. - Police intervene
By 1:45 p.m., Michigan State Police had blocked off Arcadia Park and everyone was told to go home.
The protest spilled into other parts of downtown Kalamazoo. Police followed protesters around until things were peaceful