BURLINGTON — A week into a 24/7 protest in Battery Park to demand the termination of three officers from the Burlington Police Department, protesters saw their largest numbers yet, with well over 500 people taking to the streets Tuesday night.
Protesters wore all black in solidarity with Black activists for the “Blackout Tuesday” march, which spanned more than five city blocks, with traffic stopped from the Burlington Police Department on North Avenue, along Pearl Street, all the way to City Hall, at the intersection of Church and Main streets.
The massive turnout came in the wake of Monday’s march, when a man, later identified as Jordan Atwood, approached protesters with an assault-style weapon. Police responded to the event, and a tense scene among all three parties ensued.
Atwood, 25, of Winooski, was ultimately arrested for violating conditions of prior criminal release.
Mayor Miro Weinberger released a statement Tuesday about the incident Monday night, applauding police for their arrest of Atwood. The statement acknowledged the First Amendment rights of protesters, and noted that Weinberger had met twice with a group of organizers about their demands.
“I am concerned about the safety of the protestors who have demonstrated in Battery Park for the last week since the shooting of Jacob Blake,” the statement reads. “I am also concerned for the safety of the police and the general public after a rock was thrown at one of our officers last night, and the passage of emergency vehicles was temporarily blocked. I strongly urge all demonstrators to avoid a repeat of these public safety violations.”
At Tuesday’s protest, organizers scoffed at Weinberger’s statement, his characterization of the protesters as violent, and what they described as the mayor patting himself on the back.
“That was a slap to the face,” said Harmony Edosomwan. “We, the community, have been peaceful. It is the cops that are the danger to us.”
The three officers whose terminations are being demanded are Jason Bellavance, Cory Campbell, and Joseph Corrow. Protesters allege all three have used excessive force, and are a danger to the community in their current positions.
In a 2018 incident, Corrow tackled a Black man named Mabior Jok to the ground allegedly without provocation, knocking Jok unconscious. In April of 2019, Campbell punched a white man named Douglas Kilburn in the face outside the UVM Medical Center, causing injuries from which he later died. And in May 2019, all three officers responded to a call to a Burlington bar about a “verbal altercation,” and upon arrival, pushed and tackled three Black men to the ground.
The three officers all are named in federal lawsuits alleging brutality.
On Tuesday, organizers distributed hundreds of signs to protesters, half with black paint, naming the three Burlington officers whose firing is being demanded, and the other half with red paint, naming victims of police brutality from across the United States.
The protest was hyper-organized, with leaders systematically working their way through the march, reminding protesters to keep their masks up, not talk to the media, and raise their fists as a signal to be silent. A sub-group of protesters volunteered for traffic duty, blocking off streets in every direction to allow for the safe passage of protesters.
Leaders also gave demonstrators homework: to Google every name of victims of police violence written on the protesters’ signs, to talk to their families about the importance of the protests, and to register to vote.
The protest is set to continue 24/7 until the officers are fired, with marches to City Hall every night at 6:30, and others camped out every night outside the police station at Battery Park. On Thursday, another “blackout” march is planned.
The first Blackout Tuesday was held in early June after the Memorial Day killing of George Floyd. Supporters often post a photo of a black square in their social media, signifying a focus on racism.
“As long as Jason Bellavance, Cory Campbell and Joseph Corrow roam these streets, the brown and Black people of this city will no longer trust those in power,” Zanevia Wilcox told the crowd. “And if you can’t do that for us, sir, don’t forget: we pay you. You can gladly resign.”
Read the story on VTDigger here: Turnout massive on 8th night of protest demanding firing of 3 Burlington cops.