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BLM, June 2020
Downtown curfew: A Photographic Log
2 June 2020

George Floyd / "I can't breathe" / Black Lives Matter demonstrators have marched through Santa Rosa every day for at least a week. For the most part the marchers have been peaceful, but on some nights the composition of the crowd alters noticeably. A few of those individuals with a different agenda have been responsible for vandalism, especially broken windows.

While the SRPD response has remained relatively restrained, multiple demonstrators have been arrested, some yahoo in a truck attempted (unsuccessfully) to drive into the crowd, many streets in the city core have been temporarily blocked with concrete barriers, and rubber bullets fired by police have injured several people, some sufficiently to send them to hospital emergency rooms.

Those events, concentrated in a relatively small part of Santa Rosa, resulted in the entire city being placed under curfew.

I've avoided most of the action (someone who shall remain nameless is concerned about this elderly guy's safety) although I accidentally found myself in the middle of the crowd marching up a street while I bicycled across town last week. With the curfew finally lifted, yesterday I biked downtown (about six miles from home) to get a firsthand look at the situation. Here's what I found.


Pedaling toward Courthouse Square, I encountered the first barriers closing downtown streets.


Another barrier closing another street.

I didn't need to worry about traffic on any of the streets while I cruised around.


First look at boarded up windows, these on a bank building.


An interesting poster glued to the street next to the sidewalk.


Boarded up entrance to the Santa Rosa Plaza shopping mall.


The Faber of Farrell - Faber lived two doors down from us until he passed away during the 2017 fires.

Looks like the offices might have lost a window.


I was pleased to see my favorite downtown tree escaped damage.

Actually, I think I would pay demonstrators to pull down the annoying sign and post intruding into my shot.


Someone taped a "Seniors Live Here" notice to the door of this downtown apartment building, as if that would confer protective powers.


Architectural detail. No damage in sight. Maybe the sign works.


Courthouse Square. This is the epicenter of the protests, where crowds gather.

Surprisingly quiet and peaceful this afternoon. Probably because all the streets around here are completely blocked.


One lonely guy with a sign at another blocked off street.


I have absolutely no idea what's up with this sock monkey.


It's a mystery to me.

I think I'll pedal home.




Summary

Date: 7 June 2020
Time: 2:30 - 4:00
Weather: 75° F, mostly sunny, very windy
Route: Downtown Santa Rosa
Distance: 16 miles
Bike: Ogre
Riders: Solo

Comments? Questions? Suggestions? I'd like to hear from you.

~ 97 ~



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