As Arizona curfew comes to end, Gov. Doug Ducey says thanks
Jun 8, 2020, 11:40 AM | Updated: 2:30 pm
PHOENIX – Monday night will be the first in a week that protesters won’t face the threat of arrest for being on Arizona’s streets after 8 p.m.
Gov. Doug Ducey took to social media to thank citizens and law enforcement personnel for their cooperation with his eight-night curfew, which expired at 5 a.m. Monday.
As part of a four-tweet thread, he said the Arizona Department of Public Safety would work with local agencies to “keep our streets safe and protect the rights of all residents to make their voices heard.”
Sparked by the in-custody death of George Floyd in Minneapolis on Memorial Day, protesters have been demonstrating against police brutality and racial inequality in downtown Phoenix every night since May 28.
I want to thank both the peaceful protestors and law enforcement professionals for their cooperation during Arizona’s statewide curfew. Arizona has avoided much of the violence we’ve seen in other states and large metro areas. 1/
— Doug Ducey (@dougducey) June 8, 2020
Similar protests have been going on around the country and world.
Some in the Phoenix crowds grew unruly and committed acts of vandalism the first days of the protests, and hundreds of arrests were made.
A day after looting and vandalism took place at Scottsdale Fashion Square on May 30, Ducey ordered his 8 p.m.-5 a.m. nightly curfew.
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The order included many exceptions, including for businesses and restaurants and their patrons.
The protests have been growing and spreading, with demonstrations being held in Arizona communities big and small in the past week.
Police officers have marched alongside demonstrators in some cities, including Chandler and Scottsdale.
The demonstrations have been dispersing before curfew, with no arrests being reported in the past week.
“For the past 8 days, we’ve seen Arizonans exercise their Constitutional Rights in a peaceful manner. With this approach, Arizona can continue to be a good example of how First Amendment rights and public safety will be prioritized,” Ducey tweeted.
