Supporters, protesters face off at pro-police rally in Gilbert
Aug 27, 2020, 6:40 PM | Updated: Aug 28, 2020, 7:36 am
(Twitter Photo/@gaminogabriel)
(Twitter Photo/@gaminogabriel)
PHOENIX — A scheduled pro-police rally was met by counter-protesters in Gilbert on Thursday night.
The rally took place at the intersection of Gilbert Road and Warner Road as police occupied the space between the protesters and counter-protesters, who were staged at separate corners of the intersection.
Police said the rally remained peaceful and ended around 10:15 p.m.
Pro-law enforcement protesters chanting USA after playing the national anthem. pic.twitter.com/ixdiW6RIlj
— Gabriel Gamiño, MA (@gaminogabriel) August 28, 2020
An estimated 100 people were in the crowd as of 5:30 p.m.
“Cops are being devastated all over the country – all of them – and it’s wrong. It’s just wrong,” Don Cherry, a 30-year Gilbert resident, told KTAR News 92.3 FM. “I’m not saying they are 100% right, 99% are. Every business you always have someone who screws up. It doesn’t mean you dismantle them.”
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On Tuesday, the Gilbert Police Department posted a video on Twitter asking protesters to remain peaceful on Thursday.
“Over the last 6-to-8 weeks, we have had gatherings at Gilbert and Warner roads and these gatherings have remained peaceful until last week,” Chief Michael Soelberg said. “Last week we saw violence within these gatherings and that’s not acceptable.”
Traffic restrictions were put in place by Gilbert police ahead of the rally.
KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Gabriel Gamiño contributed to this report.
