Raleigh mayor issues Saturday night curfew, closes downtown streets ahead of protests
Ahead of anticipated protests Saturday night, Raleigh Mayor Mary-Ann Baldwin has issued a citywide curfew.
In a statement Saturday morning, Baldwin set an 11 p.m. curfew for Raleigh, continuing to 5 a.m. Sunday morning.
“The decision is among the most difficult I have had to make as Mayor,” Baldwin said in the statement. “My goal is to create space for those who want to exercise their constitutional right of freedom of speech and assembly, while still ensuring that the residents and businesses of our community remain safe and unharmed.”
Three major roads in downtown Raleigh will also be closed this weekend “in anticipation of possible protests,” a City of Raleigh spokeswoman said Friday.
Road closures will be in effect from 7 a.m. Saturday until 7 a.m. Monday on Fayetteville Street between Morgan and Davie streets; Hargett Street between Salisbury and Wilmington streets; and Martin Street between Salisbury and Wilmington streets, according to a news release.
There are at least two separate events planned for Downtown Raleigh, with one starting Saturday afternoon and another Saturday evening.
Baldwin said she appreciates “the challenge that a curfew can cause.” Curfews in the past have gone into effect at 10 p.m., but Baldwin issued a later order for Saturday, she said, to give protests more time.
“We’ve pushed the time of the curfew to 11 p.m. to allow ample time for a peaceful protest to occur, and still maintain a safe and secure environment for all involved,” Baldwin said.
There are limited exceptions to the curfew, listed at raleighnc.gov/citywide-curfew.
The protests come days after a Kentucky grand jury cleared three Louisville police officers of criminal wrongdoing in the shooting death of Breonna Taylor. The sole officer charged in the incident faces charges of wanton endangerment, for firing into a neighboring apartment.
Businesses in downtown Raleigh started boarding up their windows Friday in anticipation of this weekend’s protests.
Protests have erupted in Louisville and elsewhere around the country.
In Durham, protesters gathered Wednesday night, the day Attorney General Daniel Cameron announced the grand jury’s decision, with some demonstrators damaging property.
The police headquarters’ windows had “revenge” and “burn it down” spray-painted on them, and several windows of businesses were broken, The News & Observer reported.
While most of this summer’s protests against police brutality have been peaceful, George Floyd protests held the weekend of May 30 turned destructive, with more than 70 incidents of property damage, The News & Observer reported.
On Aug. 28, there were some incidents of vandalism and broken windows in Raleigh as well as arrests, following protests over the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wis., The N&O reported.
Baldwin set a curfew that weekend, saying the city learned lessons earlier this summer.
This story was originally published September 25, 2020 at 6:35 PM.