DES MOINES, Iowa - Des Moines Mayor Frank Cownie is thanking people protesting the killing of George Floyd while in police custody for doing so peacefully.
About 1,000 protesters made their way to Cownie's West Des Moines home shortly before the 9 p.m. countywide curfew took effect Wednesday night.
They gave him a list of demands, which he addressed while engaging with them outside his home. Cownie said he agreed that the city should pass a racial profiling ordinance and that felon voting rights should be restore. He said he'd work on releasing jailed protesters and striking down the current curfew.
The crowd cheered with approval when Cownie asked police in riot gear stationed at his home to "back up."
The protesters first gathered at around 6 p.m. at a Price Chopper store in Ingersoll Avenue, with some carrying signs that said, "Black Lives Matter" and No Justice, No Peace." They marched on Grand Aveue, stopping at 42nd Street where several speakers voiced their thoughts about changes needed to address racial justice.
The rally overall was peaceful.
The Des Moines Police Department posted a message on Facebook Wednesday, thanking people who have been protesting peaceably, noting that many have traveled from far away to make not just Des Moines, but the world, a better place.
The post also said a small number of people had an agenda to destroy not only property, but progress.
A portion of the Des Moines Police posting on Facebook
Thank you, Des Moines, for the largely peaceful evening last night. We're proud to see the thousands of people who have brought their heads, hearts, and voices together to endeavor for equality, unity, and justice in our community. Many come from our diverse neighborhoods. Some have traveled a great distance. All have brought compassion, empathy, and determination to make not just Des Moines, but our world, a better place.
A small number of people have tried to steal that. A small group with an agenda of destroying not only property, but progress.