#utah protest

tonight there was a protest organized by PSL (Party for Socialism and Liberation) scheduled for 6 pm. Around 6 protesters began showing up with numbers somewhere around 200+. At 7 pm slc mayor Erin Mendenhall tweeted that there would be a city-wide curfew starting at 8 (phones of city residents were alerted of this at 8) it was unclear how else this news got out if at all. at around 7:45 it was resported that cops sealed off area behind protestors. Organizers of the protest told people to go home and not break curfew minutes before 8 pm. about half left at this time, with swat showing up. local public transit was shut down. many were scared to approach their vehicles for fear of being arrested. police began preparing for mass arrests around 9. at 9:30 it is reported that police began boxing remaining 100 or so protestors in, arresting anyone trying to flee. between 9:15 and 9:30 many were reporting arrests starting with police continuing to box protestors in. around 9:30 a leader of the protestors with a megaphone began negotiating with officers asking if they could be allowed to leave. after a short while at about 9:35 officers agreed and allowed them to disperse. as of 11:00 everyone except a few reamining individuals appears to be out safely.

by the officers own admission there were no “out of control” protestors, no looting or agression. (most of this information was from reports of police scanners)

even so there was military and police presence ALL DAY even before protesting began. they were prepared to get agressive, and it was protestors and organizers who deescalated every time. they were prepared to arrest everyone present at a peaceful (their words) protest. they didnt, which is good, but it took a lot to get there.

local news will report more agression than was present and/or a small insignificant turnout, neither is true. Stay safe everyone. (ps my times may be off from what actually happened, a minute or so later)