On Wednesday, Martinez Police Chief Manjit Sappal issued the following letter to the community regarding a large scale protest schedule for Sunday, July 12.
Here is a copy of the letter, or click here to read:
July 8, 2020
Dear Community:
Many of you may be aware that we are planning for a large scale protest on July 12th. We have received numerous emails and messages from concerned business owners and residents about potential problems in our town due to the protest.
I wanted to provide some information on what we know, what we are doing, and what we expect. As a small community thrust into the national spotlight, we are now receiving a large amount of publicity and this has translated into a planned protest on Sunday July 12th. We anticipate a large group of folks showing up to gather at the Mural on Court Street and then marching to the waterfront.
WHAT WE KNOW:
There are several organizers involved and we have been in contact with the national group, TWS Revolution, as well as the local group, Martizians for Black Lives. The organizers from both groups have been helpful and cooperative in the planning of the event. They have worked with us on their walking routes and are committed to a peaceful gathering. We do not anticipate any issues from these groups, but we do anticipate a large number of demonstrators showing up at the Mural to gather.
I know that we have many in our community that are afraid and concerned about what this event may bring. I would ask that as a community,we collectively take a deep breath. Please know that as a City,we are doing all we can to ensure that the community remains safe. We do not have any specific information that would lead us to believe there will be any problems, but we cannot predict what may occur and with that in mind, we will have adequate staff on hand. I appreciate the help from the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office and all the agencies within our County that are providing officers to assist us through mutual aid.
WHAT ARE WE DOING?
Our plan is to have officers out and about on Main Street and in the general downtown area to provide patrols to the businesses downtown. In an effort to control traffic in the area and to provide a buffer between the business areas, residential areas, and the protestors on Court Street,we will be blocking off the following streets starting on Saturday July 11th at 10:00 pm. Vehicles will not be permitted to enter the area until Monday the 13th at 7:00 am:
- 500-800 blocks of Ferry St.
- 600-800 blocks of Las Juntas
- 500-800 blocks of Court St.
- 600-700 blocks of Pine St.
- 800-1000 blocks of Marina Vista
- 800-1000 blocks of Escobar
- 800-1000 blocks of Main St.
- 800-1000 blocks of Ward St.
- 800-900 blocks of Green St.
While we realize that blocking the streets will be inconvenient, it will provide us the ability to properly manage foot and vehicular traffic. It will enable us to provide a buffer as well as clear lines of sight between the protest and the surrounding area. We ask that the public and our business owners not park their vehicles in these areas from Saturday at 10:00 pm to Monday morning at 7:00 am. We will be placing barricades up to block off the streets to create this buffer zone.
Furthermore, the groups involved have agreed to park their cars at the Waterfront and convene at the Mural. They will then march from the Courthouse on Court Street to Marina Vista, west towards Ferry Street, and back to the Waterfront. This should alleviate parking related issues in and around the downtown area.
WHAT DO WE EXPECT?
For anyone that is involved in the protest on Sunday –I would ask that you participate in a way that is respectful and mindful of others. Even when you may feel frustrated or angry, remember that when we lose our patience or lose control, any message we are trying to send gets lost in the delivery. Let’s all focus on sharing our message in a constructive and peaceful way.
The police department is committed to keeping the community safe. I have been asked by residents if the police will be enforcing the law. The answer is yes, we will. We want to provide an environment where people can peacefully assemble and engage in freedom of speech, but we cannot condone acts of violence, looting, damage to property, or behavior that puts the community at risk. Please help us keep this event civil and work with us to maintain the safety of our community. We are counting on you to help us help all of you. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Manjit Sappal
Chief of Police
31 comments
What in hell are they protesting now? They live in a country which gives them the opportunity to do get a free education, attend college, make something of themselves. They should try living in another country and see what happens. The problem is that things are way too good in this country and these “protesters” are not adding anything positive but just the opposite.
Don’t give this mob a permit!
The police chief allowing a riot, what could go wrong….
You DO know that we are allowed to protest, right? Under that pesky 1st Amendment of your beloved constitution, which, as the great patriot you undoubtedly are, you will go to the mattresses to defend. So why would you associate protesting with rioting?
IGNORE USELESS LIBERAL
“NOT-LoveableCurmudgeon”
Liberals are not very bright and just don’t get or understand REALITY
– I blame the many years in mommies basement
Yes! We are allowed to protest but it better be something really important to protest for or against! This latest thing is just some silly-assed nothing and the protests really make no difference but anger people who will retaliate! They are protesting at their own risk. I think the protesters have way too much time on their hands. Most have no idea what they are protesting about anyway!
Hey Loveable! Yes, you can protest all you want. But if you block my street so an ambulance cannot get to my house to pick up my kid who got badly hurt or I am blocked from driving him to an ER myself, you will experience some protesting from me which you might not like. Just keep that in mind!
Every time there is a “protest” somehow it turns into a riot. Protesters attract the looters and other troublemakers. They block freeway traffic and also the city streets. A bunch of loud mouths using bullhorns to disrupt neighborhoods! 80% have no idea why or what they are protesting! We have the right to protect ourselves from such intrusion. They can drive to the desert and protest all they want. By the way, the majority of these protests don’t bring the results they hope for. They just piss people off who don’t care about their demands!
So sick of this
Protest exactly WHAT???
Sick of this fake manufactured anger liberals have whipped up their blind sheep into.
It was about George Floyd for maybe one day after that all these haters of America abused George Floyd‘s name, if I was related to him I would be really pissed off
No one gives a rat’s ass about George Floyd, the lifelong criminal who engaged in aggravated assault, hostage taking, illegal drug dealing, theft, etc. All these people are doing is acting like anarchists thinking there are no consequences. We, the people of Martinez (40,000 residents) thumb our noses at a few dozen idiots some of whom do not even live here.
So I’m assuming it will not be over 100 people, since my son’s high school graduation was not allowed to have a graduation, due to the 100 people limit for outdoor gatherings.
I also assume that these 100 people, will be required to wear masks and be 6 feet apart, otherwise they will be sited and/or arrested.
Anything besides this, would lead all to believe…Laws are made to be broken~And all crime, would no longer be considered punishable.
Why would my freedom to come and go…from my own home, as well as not being able to have my furniture delivered, be taken away, and road blocks put up in my neighbourhood,. My rights are taken, to allow
Remember how the Chinese virus spiked two weeks after all these “protests” and looting occurred in June? Well, guess what! Just watch it spike to high heaven after this Martinez fiasco tomorrow. I bet people will be suing the City if they come down with that pestilence.
Martinez asked for this and more when they foolishly allowed a political statement to be painted on a public road. Unfortunately the Martinez residents will pay. Think next time before you vote morons to run your city.
It started with Racist Flyers. “All it takes for Evil to Prevail is for Good People to do nothing”.
I’m doing nothing except kicking liberal butts!
President Trump: Virus of Hate. I see you are infected.
I can’t wait! You’re going to be crapping “little green apples” after Trump is reelected! Be sure to stock up on a lot of toilet paper!
I’m not a big Trump fan, but I intent to vote for him just to piss off liberals. I mean, who else is there to vote for?
Matinez you so deserve the destruction that this brings,and hopefully the smart ones will move and never come back.you are truly the most selfish and rule ridden city in CCC and cant even enforce anything
Protesters ~ Please help by keeping people safe and also making sure the opportunists, Anarchists, Marxists, looters, rioters and thieves don’t cause any property damage, otherwise it will defeat your purpose and make BLM look bad.
Dream on, George, dream on!
The morality mob organized by hardcore left wing America hating groups are making a point to Martinez residents aided by a DA that is soros backed and a weak mayor not to question their narrative nor to express your grievances by neatly painting over a couple of letters on a city sanctioned political message. If you aren’t burning or looting or assaulting police. You are the problem. The out of town morality police are coming for you.
My comments are censored so only controlled commentary us allowed here. What a joke.
I don’t like that “your comment is awaiting moderation” crap! I thought this was the one site where one can express themselves freely. I am not a fan of ANY censorship.
We must stay home, wear a mask, keep social distancing, cannot attend church, cannot attend funeral, cannot have a graduation ceremony. YET, protesting (usually involving no social distancing, lots of screaming and yelling) is ok?! People have lost their good sense. ? And if you want to open your business you have to pay a fine or get arrested?! wow….
In the month of June alone, there were approximately 26 million people in the US that protested!
I seriously doubt there were anywhere near 26 million protesters in this country, but even if there were … this country has over 300,000,000 inhabitants so 26 million is a drop-in-the-bucket.
I was driving around town earlier and saw business owners boarding up their facilities in anticipation of thousands descending on our town to cause problems. A few told me that they have been watching the social media sites where there was a call for outsiders to join in this upcoming protest.
So why did this city take such violent turn? Is it because the Martinez leadership capitulated to the anger of the mobs as opposed to thinking clearly and strategically about an effective response?
With this “protest” coming up … I hope the same thing doesn’t happen like it did during the initial George Floyd riots. A cop hit a rioter in the testicles with a rubber bullet. He was heard yelling, “I can’t breed! I can’t breed!”
Is our city being run by total idiots? Didn’t they learn their lessons? Two weeks after the protesters started spreading all over our counties, there was a surge in coronavirus like nobody’s business and it’s still growing. Now outdoor dining is being shut down! Do we want this to continue? How in hell could anyone give these “protesters” permission to run amok? Where are our public heath departments in this? Politicians should stay out of this. They’ve screwed this state over enough!
Well, that “protest” sure fizzed out. Only a couple of hundred showed up and most were from other towns. I think a lot of them were drunk or on smoked too much dope.
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