George Floyd: Dayton leaders emphasize safety ahead of Saturday’s protest

Organizers are planning a protest over George Floyd’s death in police custody for this Saturday in Dayton.

Mayor Nan Whaley and Police Chief Richard Biehl gave a press conference Friday in an attempt to speak directly to the protesters.

“We know many people are very angry, sad, scared and frustrated. And we hope the protests this weekend are a safe space for people to express this anger and to demand change,” said Whaley.

Chief Biehl said that there would be an increased police presence this weekend in Dayton and the department would be present to to protect the protesters’ constitutional rights.

“Let’s go about this peacefully but please hear our word. We want Justice and we want it now,” said Biehl.

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Both Mayor Whaley and Chief Biehl released statements on Twitter echoing their priority for a safe protest this weekend.

Chief Biehl reminded the public that officers have been reminded that their training does not include any kind of fashion restraints.

News Center 7 also spoke with one of the leaders of the planned protest, Ronald Woodland II.

Woodland says this weekend’s protest is about grieving continuous acts of police violence against the African-American community.

“The amount of frustration, sadness, and anger, not only that the family could feel, but me as an African-American male could feel,” said Woodland.

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Woodland emphasized that he does not condone the violence, but he understands that for some, those actions are the only way they feel they can be heard.

U.S. Rep. Mike Turner, R-10th Congressional District, said the loss of Floyd must produce a national standard when it comes to evaluating police abuse:

“Our nation has recently witnessed multiple acts of racism, brutality, and killing. The officer in Minneapolis has been charged with murder and will rightfully face the justice system. The Department of Justice has begun a necessary and important investigation so the loss of George Floyd’s life must become a national standard of clear police abuse and criminal use of lethal force.”

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