More details are coming out surrounding the police action that had to be taken early this morning in Green Bay.
Gunshots and looting were reported at the Marathon gas station at the corner of Walnut Street and Monroe Avenue. A SWAT truck and State Patrol vehicle came to the scene, and deployed smoke in an attempt to break up the violence.
Officials have not released any statement about the incident at this time, however, a Green Bay Police Squad car is at the gas station, and police tape has been wrapped around the pumps.
One member of Sunday’s peaceful protests spoke with a news outlet and wanted to clarify that the people involved in this incident were not part of their group who were protesting police brutality. In fact, the individual said this kind of action is distracting from the real problem. Organizers of the peaceful protest were seen at the Marathon gas station early Monday morning to help clean up the area.
The Green Bay Police are expected to hold a news conference regarding the event later today.
On Sunday afternoon, Green Bay Police Chief Andrew Smith spoke to protesters outside the GB Police Department where he said, “We don’t hire people that don’t have the character to be good police officers, to be honest, to be hardworking and treat people fairly. If you’re not disgusted as a police officer by what you saw in Minneapolis, then you are in the wrong business. I will finish with this: thank you all for being here. Thank you for peacefully demonstrating. This is as American as apple pie, this is what America is all about. It’s time for a revolution. To the days of Martin Luther King, peaceful protests are what make change. Thank you for being here and thank you for being part of the change.”
After he was done speaking the crowd could be heard chanting “Walk with us!” Green Bay Police Chief Andrew Smith then walked with the demonstrators.
