ROANOKE, Va. – Roanoke city manager Bob Cowell announced that he declared a local state of emergency for Roanoke on Saturday. That gives city leaders authority to set a curfew if needed. Cowell said he would do that in conjunction with the police department if needed.
Roanoke City police chief Sam Roman said city leaders want to advocate for peaceful protests and provide a safe place for people to do so and let their “very worthy” voices be heard. He said, however, the violent actions of a few threaten the safety of the rest of the peaceful protesters.
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Roman said there were approximately six arrests stemming from the protests on Saturday and into Sunday.
Protests by two different groups started Saturday afternoon in Washington Park and ended Sunday morning at about 2 a.m. after someone threw a firework at Roanoke police officers. Protesters moved from place to place during the day--- traveling to the Valley View Mall area Walmart and Target stores, before going to Burlington, the Sheetz gas station on Route 460 and then ending back at the Roanoke City Police Station downtown.
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