Local BLM protest sees over 100
Roughly 100 people gathered on the steps of the Humboldt County Courthouse Saturday afternoon to protest police brutality and systemic racism, one of many protests nationwide as the country continues to see mass assemblies following the May 25 killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin.
The protest in support of the Black Lives Matter movement saw over 100 people gathered sporting signs supporting Black Lives Matter and condemning police brutality.
While much of the protest centered around national headlines, a few protesters sported signs directed at local law enforcement.
One protester held a sign which read, “Honsal, train your sheriffs on deescalation now!”
Humboldt County Sheriff William Honsal discussed the sheriff’s office use of deescalation training in a video released Thursday.
Saturday’s protest was smaller in numbers than the assemblies seen a week ago in downtown Eureka, which drew hundreds and saw three arrests and the use of non-lethal pepper balls on Sunday by the Eureka Police Department.
Last weekend’s protests also saw scores of people block both
lanes of traffic on US highway 101, and later on 5th street.
By press deadline, no
one had attempted to block traffic or otherwise stray from the courthouse lawn.
It was rare that a minute passed Saturday without at least one passing car honking at of the protest.
As of 2 p.m. there was no police presence at the
protest.
Saturday’s protest followed a similar one held Friday night in Fortuna, which saw local high school students and Fortuna Mayor Sue Long lead a peaceful night of community assembly.