FLOYD'S
FLOYD'S DEATH. PROTESTERS MAKING THEIR WAY TO
THE HARTFORD POLICE DEPARTMENT
AND I-84.
AND I-84.
AND I-84. ALL OF THIS PLAYING OUT AROUND
6:00 P.M.
6:00 P.M.
6:00 P.M. >> WE'RE TAKING A LIVE LOOK AT
HARTFORD AN 84 EASTBOUND AND
WESTBOUND.
WESTBOUND. PROTESTERS GATHERED DOWNTOWN
HARTFORD MADE THEIR WAY ON HOT
HIGHWAY JOINED WITH STATE
POLICE.
POLICE.
POLICE. >> WE'RE HEARING THIS IS A
PRAYER CIRCLE.
PRAYER CIRCLE. RIGHT NOW TROOPER, FOR THOSE ARE
WATCHING WHO ARE NOT OUT TO
PROTEST NOW, MAYBE SITTING IN
THE LIVING ROOM AND THEY'RE
WATCHING THIS PLAY OUT ON THEIR
TELEVISION SCREENS.
TELEVISION SCREENS. TALK TO THE PEOPLE OF
CONNECTICUT RIGHT NOW ABOUT THE
IMPORTANCE OF WHAT WE'RE SEEING
NOW.
NOW.
NOW. THIS
NOW. THIS PRAYER CIRCLE THAT'S
HAPPENING IN THE MIDDLE OF I-84
WESTBOUND PROTESTERS WHO ARE
ANGRY, WANT TO BE HEARD AND
FIRST RESPONDERS IN OUR STATE
WHO LEFT THEIR FAMILY THIS
MORNING TO GO OUT TO WORK AND
JUST TRY TO KEEP THESE PEOPLE
SAFE.
SAFE.
SAFE. TALK TO ME ABOUT ABOUT THE
IMPORTANCE.
IMPORTANCE. >> CULTURAL CHANGE HAS TO BE
COLLABORATIVE.
COLLABORATIVE. WE HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER WITH
THE COMMUNITIES WITH OUR
LEADERSHIP, WITH OUR TROOPERS
ALL LAW ENFORCEMENT ACROSS THE
BOARD.
BOARD.
BOARD. THIS IS JUST ONE TIME THAT WE
ARE WILLING TO WORK WITH THEM.
>> A PEACEFUL ENDING THERE.
KUDOS TO THE CONNECTICUT STATE
POLICE AND PROTESTING FOR THAT
ENDING.
ENDING.
ENDING. EARLIER TODAY, COMMISSIONER
SPOKE ABOUT PROTESTS.
>> VERY SURPRISED OF THE
FORCEFULNESS AND WORDS THAT WAS
USED.
USED.
USED. THAT'S NOT THE CONNECTICUT WAY.
BEING POLICE CHIEF IT'S A
DIFFERENT WAY WITH OUR COMMUNITY
AND OUR COMMUNITY POLICING.
WE WANT TO HEAR THE GRIEVANCES.
WE WANT TO ASSIST YOU WHEN YOU
PROTEST.
PROTEST.
PROTEST. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE
SAFE.
SAFE.
SAFE. WE
SAFE. WE WANT TO HEAR YOUR GRIEVANCES.
>> WE HAVE TEAM COVERAGE OF
THOSE -- PROTEST TONIGHT.
WE WANT TO GET TO FOX 61 BRIAN
WHO WAS ON I-84.
>> Reporter: THERE WERE MOMENTS
OF FULL OF FRUSTRATION AND ANGER
OVER RACIAL INJUSTICE BUT
APPRECIATION FOR STATE TROOPERS
WHO ALLOWED PROTESTERS VOICES TO
BE HEARD.
BE HEARD.
BE HEARD. BLACK LIVES MATTER!
>> Reporter: WALKING ALONG
ALBANY AVENUE PROTESTERS
SHOUTED.
SHOUTED.
SHOUTED. SWARMING THE STATE TAP --
CAPITOL THEY DEMANDING CHANGE.
PEOPLE SAID IT'S TIME TO BAND
TOGETHER TO CHANGE HEARTS.
>> I KEEP SAYING TO FACEBOOK
SAYING WHITE PRIVILEGE DOESN'T
EXIST.
EXIST.
EXIST. UNTIL PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THERE'S
HUGE RACISM IN THIS COUNTRY AND
IT COMES FROM THE TOP AND THE
BOTTOM AND THE SIDE.
IT'S EVERYWHERE.
IT'S EVERYWHERE. UNTIL PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT,
NOTHING IS GOING TO CHANGE.
>> Reporter: IT'S FOR THAT
REASON PROTESTERS LEFT THE
CAPITOL MARCHING AGAIN ON THEIR
JOURNEY.
JOURNEY.
JOURNEY. LEADING THEM TO THE HARTFORD
POLICE DEPARTMENT.
POLICE DEPARTMENT. PROTESTERS SAYING THIS
DEMONSTRATIONS SHINING A LIGHT
ON POLICE BRUTALITY NATIONWIDE
AND HERE IN CONNECTICUT.
>> THEY SEE HURT -- THEY SEE US
HURTING.
HURTING.
HURTING. WE WANT CHANGE
>> WE HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO.
I ACKNOWLEDGE THAT.
WE ARE HERE
>> Reporter: HARTFORD POLICE
CHIEF JUST ONE OF MANY THOSE
ADDRESSING PROTESTERS FACE TO
FACE.
FACE.
FACE. >>
FACE. >> I WANT TO HEAR THINGS RAW.
THE PAIN AND FRUSTRATION AND
ANGER IS DEEP AND IT'S RAW.
IT'S LONG STANDING.
WE HAVE TO NOT JUST ACKNOWLEDGE
IT, CONTINUE TO TRY TO DO THE
WORK OF GETTING BETTER, BEING
BETTER RIGHT HERE.
>> Reporter: THEN FOR ABOUT 45
MINUTES, EVERYTHING STOPPED.
THEY ARE ON THE HIGHWAY NOW.
YOU CAN SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING
BEHIND ME.
BEHIND ME. PROTESTERS ON TO THE HIGHWAY
INNER EXIT 48.
PROTESTERS SITTING AND LAYING
DOWN ON INTERSTATE 84.
UNPLANNED DEMONSTRATION THAT
BROUGHT THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER
AS STATE POLICE SHUT DOWN THE
HIGHWAY AND THEN HELD HANDS SIDE
BY SIDE.
BY SIDE.
BY SIDE. >> WE KNOW THESE PROTESTERS,
THEY WANT TO BE HEARD.
THEY WANT TO TALK ABOUT THEIR
FEELINGS, GET THEIR EXPRESSIONS
OUT.
OUT.
OUT. THEIR FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHT.
>> Reporter: JUST A SHORT TIME
LATER, PROTESTERS LEFT SAYING
THEY MET THEIR GOAL.
>> WE WANT THIS COUNTRY TO BE
GREAT COUNTRY.
GREAT COUNTRY. WE ARE VERY EXCITED TO WORK WITH
PEOPLE AND WE WANT THE COPS TO
WORK WITH US AND UNDERSTAND OUR
PAIN AND STOP KILLING US.
>> Reporter: EVEN WITH ACT OF
AGGRESSION SHOWN ACROSS THE
COUNTRY, HERE IN CONNECTICUT, IT
WAS SHOWN THERE CAN BE COMMON
GROUND FOUND BETWEEN THIS
MOVEMENT AND LAW ENFORCEMENT.
LIVE IN HARTFORD TONIGHT, FOX 61
NEWS.
NEWS.
NEWS. >>>
NEWS. >>> SOME OF THE PROTEST TAKING
PLACE IN THE CITY OF HARTFORD.
HARTFORD MAYOR IS JOINING US
TONIGHT.
TONIGHT.
TONIGHT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TONIGHT.
>> THANKS, GOOD TO BE WITH YOU.
>> I WANT TO START OFF WITH YOUR
SPEECH OUTSIDE THE HARTFORD
POLICE DEPARTMENT.
POLICE DEPARTMENT. YOU WERE SPEAKING TO GROUP OF
ANGRY PROTESTERS WHO WERE
FRUSTRATED THAT THEY WON'T BEING
HEARD.
HEARD.
HEARD. THEY HAVE NO INTERESTED IN
TALKING TO A LEGISLATIVE LEADER
LIKE YOURSELF.
LIKE YOURSELF. HOW DO YOU THINK YOUR MESSAGE
WAS RECEIVED?
WAS RECEIVED? >> I WENT TO LISTEN.
THE GROUP ASKED ME TO SPEAK AND
I SPOKE FROM THE HEART.
AS I SAID THERE TODAY, IF YOU'RE
NOT HEART BROKEN AND DISGUSTED
BY THE MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD,
YOU'RE NOT A HUMAN BEING.
IF YOU'RE NOT ANGRY ABOUT IT,
YOU'RE NOT AMERICAN.
I WANTED TO BE THERE IN PERSON
TO LISTEN AND TO HEAR AND I
THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT.
I TRY TO SPEAK FROMth HEART.
>> AT THE SAME TIME, YOU HAD TO
STAND BEHIND AND STAND WITH THE
POLICE DEPARTMENT.
POLICE DEPARTMENT. SIMULTANEOUSLY STANDING BESIDE
AND WITH THOSE PROTESTING.
TALK TO ME ABOUT THAT ROLE THAT
YOU HAD TO PLAY OVER THIS PAST
WEEKEND AND TODAY.
>> I THINK THAT I'M REALLY PROUD
OF OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR CITY
THAT THE PROTEST HAVE BEEN LARGE
AND POWERFUL BUT ALSO PEACEFUL.
I THINK WHEN THE PROTEST ARE
PEACEFUL, THERE'S NOT MUCH OF A
LINE TO DRAW THERE.
PROTESTERS ARE OUT BECAUSE THEY
ARE ANGRY AND FATIGUED AND SICK
AND TIRED OF WHAT WE HAVE SEEN
THE COUNTRY FOR A LONG TIME BY
THE MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD.
OUR OFFICERS AND OUR POLICE
LEADERSHIP ARE HORRIFIED BY THAT
TOO.
TOO.
TOO. THE
TOO. THE PROTESTERS ARE OUT THERE
ASKING FOR POLICING THAT IS
ROOTED IN ACCOUNTABILITY AND
TRANSPARENCY AND A RELATIONSHIP
OF RESPECT AND TRUST FOR THE
COMMUNITY.
COMMUNITY. THAT'S THE VALUES THAT OUR
DEPARTMENT ASPIRES TO.
WHEN WE FALL SHORT, WE TRY TO
ACKNOWLEDGE IT, AND DO BETTER.
>> MAYOR, I WANT TO END ON THIS
NOTE.
NOTE.
NOTE. THERE ARE WHOLE BUNCH OF PEOPLE
WATCHING US NOW WHO DON'T LIVE
IN HARTFORD.
IN HARTFORD. THEY LIVE IN THE STATE OF
CONCENTRATES.
CONCENTRATES. BEFORE
CONCENTRATES. -- -- CONNECTICUT.MANY OF THOSE
CONCENTRATES. -- -- CONNECTICUT.MANY OF THOSEE
WORKING IN HARTFORD.
YOU LIVE RIGHT IN THE CENTER OF
THE CITY.
THE CITY.
THE CITY. AS DO I.
AS DO I.
AS DO I. THEY'RE NOT ONLY A MAYOR, YOU'RE
A FATHER TO YOUNG CHILDREN.
SHOULD THESE PEOPLE FEEL SAFE?
DO YOU FEEL SAFE WITH YOUR KIDS
IN THE CITY TONIGHT?
>> AGAIN, I LOVE THIS CITY I'M
SO PROUD OF THIS CITY.
DESPITE THE VERY DEEP AND REAL
ANGER AND FRUSTRATION OUR
COMMUNITY CAME OUT FORCEFULLY TO
SAY ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.
BUT TO DO IT AS A COMMUNITY
UNITED IN THE GOAL MOVING US
FORWARD.
FORWARD.
FORWARD. I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING WE
SHOULD ALL BE PROUD OF.
AS FATHER OF THREE KIDS, I ALSO
HOPE THAT WE AS AMERICA, TAKE
THIS OPPORTUNITY TO TRY TO HEAL
WOUNDS THAT HAS EXISTED FOR A
LONG TIME.
LONG TIME. IT IS DEEPLY DISHEARTENING AND
SADDENING AND SCARY TO SEE THE
PRESIDENT AND OTHERS DRIVING US
FARTHER APART.
FARTHER APART. FOR THE SAKE OF MY KIDS, I HOPE
THIS IS A TIME WHEN WE CAN ALL
COME TOGETHER IN WHAT SHOULD BE
A UNIFYING MISSION OF BUILDING
AN AMERICA AND COMMUNITIES
ACROSS AMERICA THAT COME CLOSER
TO OUR IDEALS.
>> PEACEFUL AND SAFE SO FAR.
HARTFORD MAJOR, THANK YOU FOR
YOUR TIME TONIGHT.
WE APPRECIATE IT.
I WANT TO MOVE ON HERE.
THE CONGRESSWOMAN SPEAKING OUT
ABOUT THE PROTEST THAT THE
GOVERNOR'S NEWS CONFERENCE.
SHE FINDS HERSELF IN UNIQUE
POSITION.
POSITION.
POSITION. HER HUSBAND IS A WATERBURY
POLICE OFFICER.
POLICE OFFICER. >> I'M A CONGRESSWOMAN FOR THIS
DISTRICT.
DISTRICT.
DISTRICT. I GREW UP IN WATERBURY, EDUCATED
ALL MY CHILDREN HERE.
WAS BORN AND RAISED BUT FIRST
AND FOREMOST, I'M A MOTHER.
MY HUSBAND IS A POLICE OFFICER.
HE IS A FATHER.
I'M A BLACK WOMAN.
HE'S A BLACK MAN.
THIS EVENTS OF THE LAST COUPLE
OF DAYS HAVE BEEN DEEPLY
HURTFUL.
HURTFUL.
HURTFUL. >> WE CONTINUE TO SEE PROTESTERS
TAKING TO THE STREETS OF BRISTOL
DEMANDING JUSTICE IN THE DEATH
OF GEORGE FLOYD.
>> I CAN'T BREATHE!
>> BLACK LIVES MATTER.
>> ORGANIZERS CALLED FOR A
PEACEFUL PROTEST WALKING DOWN
NORTH MAIN STREET.
THERE TODAY, CROWDS OF
PROTESTERS GATHERING IN
MANCHESTER THIS AFTERNOON.
THOSE DEMONSTRATORS STANDING
RIGHT IN THE CENTER OF TOWN,
MANCHESTER'S MAYOR AND
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR IN
ATTENDANCE.
ATTENDANCE. >> BOTH OF US WERE PART OF THE
CONVERSATION THAT THE MAYOR OF
WATERBURY HELD WITH FAITH
LEADERS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS
AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
WE THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.
WE WANT THESE VIGILS TO BE
PEACEFUL.
PEACEFUL.
PEACEFUL. WE DON'T WANT ANYBODY TO GET
HURT.
HURT.
HURT. THIS IS A CALL TO ACTION TO MAKE
SURE THAT WE DO EVERYTHING IN
OUR POWER SO THAT EVERYONE IS
TREATED FAIRLY.
TREATED FAIRLY. >> PROTESTER THERE TAKING A KNEE
CONTINUING OUR TOUR, MASSIVE
PROTEST IN NEW HAVEN OVER THE
WEEKEND.
WEEKEND.
WEEKEND. THOSE DEMONSTRATORS BLOCKING
ROUTE 34 AT ONE POINT.
PROTESTER THERE LOCKED IN A
TENSE FACEOFF WITH NEW HAVEN
POLICE OFFICERS.
POLICE OFFICERS. NEW VIDEO SHOWING DEMONSTRATORS
SPRAYED WITH MACE.
TONIGHT COMMUNITY AND CITY
OFFICIALS ARE VOWING THESE
INCIDENT WILL NOT OVERSHADOW THE
HUNDREDS WHO WANT VOICES TO BE
HEARD.
HEARD.
HEARD. >>
HEARD. >> Reporter: JUST 24 HOURS AGO,
THESE STEPS LOOK A LOT
DIFFERENT.
DIFFERENT. PROTESTERS STOOD HERE PEACEFULLY
PROTESTING LONG INTO THE NIGHT.
THE COMMUNITY AND THE CITY STOOD
TOGETHER TO ONCE AGAIN SAY THEY
STAND UNITED AND NOW IT'S TIME
TO ACT.
TO ACT.
TO ACT. >> WE GOT ACT.
WE HAVE TO ACT.
THE COMMUNITY WANTS US TO ACT.
>> Reporter: IT COMES AFTER A
DAY MOSTLY PEACEFUL PROTESTING.
>> IF YOU SUPPORT US, GET OUT
YOUR CAR.
YOUR CAR.
YOUR CAR. >> Reporter: SEVERAL HUNDRED
PEOPLE BLOCKED OFF I-95 MERGING
IN THE OAK STREET CONNECTOR.
THE GROUP MOVED TO THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT HEADQUARTERS.
DEPARTMENT HEADQUARTERS. THEY SPENT THE NEXT FEW HOURS
PEACEFULLY PROTESTING ON THE
STEPS OF ONE UNION AVENUE.
>> IT'S BEEN PEACEFUL AND
COURAGEOUS AND RESPONSIBLE AND
INSPIRING.
INSPIRING. >> Reporter: AROUND 6:00 P.M.,
POLICE SAY PROTESTERS ENTERED
THE STATION.
THE STATION. FEW THREW ITEMS AT THE THE
OFFICERS.
OFFICERS.
OFFICERS. >> WE HELD THE LINE.
IT QUICKLY TURNED PEOPLE.
>> Reporter: NEW HAVEN POLICE
SAY THEY WERE ATTACKS WITH
MOLOTOV COCKTAILS.
MOLOTOV COCKTAILS. THEY ARE INVESTIGATING THE
INCIDENT.
INCIDENT.
INCIDENT. >> IT'S SAD THAT IT'S GOING ON
IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD.
OUR POLICE OFFICERS HERE ARE
VERY RESPECTFUL TO US.
>> WE WILL NOT ALLOW THESE ACTS
TO COME BETWEEN THE WORK THAT WE
INTEND TO DO WITH OUR COMMUNITY.
>> Reporter: ALL IN ATTENDANCE
STRESSED THE IMPORTANCE WORKING
TOGETHER TO BUILD UPON
DISCUSSIONS STARTED BY THE
PROTEST THAT HAVE BROUGHT GLOBAL
AWARENESS TO THE INJUSTICES FELT
BY MILLIONS.
BY MILLIONS. >> RACISM IS EVERYWHERE.
>> Reporter: THE CITY IS GOING
TO TAKE CONCRETE ACTION TO BRING
ABOUT CHANGE.
ABOUT CHANGE. HE DISCUSSED MOVING FORWARD WITH
CIVILIAN REVIEW BOARD ADDRESSING
POLICE IN JURISDICTIONS AND
COMMUNITY POLICING.
COMMUNITY POLICING. >> I CARE.
DEEPLY COMMITTED TO DOING THE
RIGHT THING.
RIGHT THING. TO ADDRESSING POLICE BRUTALITY
AND SYSTEMATIC RACISM.
I'M LISTENING.
I'M LISTENING. >> Reporter: BACK OUT HERE IN
FRONT OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT,
YOU CAN SEE A MESSAGE OF THANKS
FROM THE COMMUNITY REMAINS ON
THE SIDEWALK.
THE SIDEWALK. NO ONE WAS INJURED DURING THE
PROTEST.
PROTEST.
PROTEST. THERE WERE NO ARREST.
POLICE DEPARTMENT SAYING THEY
DAINT WANT TO HAVE ACTIONS OF A
FEW OUTWEIGH THE GOOD.
>>> STANFORD POLICE JOINING
PROTESTERS FOR A PEACEFUL
DEMONSTRATIONS.
DEMONSTRATIONS. THIS.
THIS.
THIS. PHOTO POSTED TO THE DEPARTMENT
FACEBOOK PAGE SAYING WE STAND
TOGETHER UNITED AND BELIEVE
THERE'S NO PLACE FOR
DISCRIMINATION AND POLICE
BRUTALITY IN AMERICA.
STANFORD JOINING PROTESTERS FOR
THAT DEMONSTRATION.
THAT DEMONSTRATION. WE HAVE NEWS TONIGHT ABOUT WEST
FARM MALL.
FARM MALL. THE MALL WILL BE KEEPING ITS
DOORS SHUT AFTER POTENTIAL RIOT
WAS PLANNED AFTER SEEING SOCIAL
MEDIA POST ABOUT THAT EVENT.
FOX 61 REACHED OUT TO THE MALL,
THEY SAID, WE CONTINUE TO
PARTNER WITH LOCAL LAW
ENFORCEMENT AND HAVE DETERMINED
TO CLOSE THE CENTER OUT OF AN
ABUNDANCE OF CAUTION.
OFFICIALS SAY THEY'LL KEEP THE