SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO.com) — The country has been steeped in protest since the May 25th slaying of 45 year-old George Floyd at the hands of four Minneapolis police officers.
Sioux Falls has been no exception and Saturday saw the third round of protesting in the city, with police brutality and racism serving as the focal point.
The protest which was originally scheduled to be held at McKennan Park was moved to Minnesota Avenue, extending from 41st Street to 33rd.
“I would say compared to the first protest this one is a lot more intense with the emotion,” KELO.com news director Todd Epp said while covering the protest. “The first one was a little more festive, everyone has been polite and practicing their First Amendment rights. The protest had a heavy police presence, Epp added, but there were no signs that law enforcement expected any forms of escalation.
May 31 saw a peaceful daytime protest degenerate into a riot at the Empire Mall, after the protest stretched into the evening hours. The riots caused approximately $75,000 in damages resulting in several arrests.
