SCHENECTADY – Schenectady Mayor Gary McCarthy Sunday afternoon declared a curfew for the city Sunday evening “out of an abundance of caution” after unrest a night earlier in Albany and an afternoon of peaceful protests in Schenectady.
Unrest and protests locally and nationally were sparked by the death of George Floyd in Minnesota at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer.
Schenectady’s curfew runs from 7 p.m. Sunday and is to run through 6 a.m. each night until June 5. until rescinded by a subsequent order, the order signed by McCarthy reads.
The order prohibits people from remaining in a public place throughout the city, either by car or on foot, except those providing essential services.
The order coincided with the streets around the police department and City Hall being blocked off with barricades.
“This State of Emergency has been declared due to the threat that imminently likely outbreak of civil unrest and disturbance within the City of Schenectady posts to the maintenance of law and order, the protection of property, and the health and welfare of the City of Schenectady’s residents and visitors,” the order reads.
McCarthy later wrote on Facebook that he issued the order “out of an abundance of caution.”
Hundreds of protesters marched in Schenectady Sunday afternoon from near the MVP building to the Schenectady Police Department and City Hall.
The crowd eventually made its way back to the Schenectady Police Department, where they spoke directly with Schenectady Police Chief Eric Clifford and Clifford, flanked by Schenectady officers in riot gear, eventually took a knee with his officers in solidarity with the protesters and officers then marched with the protesters.
In Albany Saturday, an afternoon peaceful protest and March was followed by an evening protest that turned violent as protesters threw rocks and bottles at officers. One officer was injured and at least three arrests have been made.
Other cities around the country have also ordered curfews after protests.
Also:
- Video of Sunday’s Schenectady George Floyd protest in Schenectady; Police Chief, officers in riot gear, take knee
- Images: Sunday’s George Floyd protest in Schenectady
- Images: Signs at Sunday’s George Floyd protest in Schenectady
- Protest turns violent as demonstrators clash with Albany police
Categories: -News-, Schenectady County
