LAWRENCE —The police in Lawrence and the Douglas County Sheriff's office on Monday afternoon asked citizens protesting near 13th and Massachusetts Street to move to an alternate location so that the road can reopen for travel and commerce, according to police spokesman Patrick Compton.
Officers attempted to relocate the assembly out of the roadway and to a safer location.
Law enforcement's goal was to ensure commerce and safety, reinstate public access to civil service buildings, while still allowing the demonstrators to assemble.
The Chief of Police made the decision to place barricades between E. North Park and E. South Park Streets. This was done to provide a proper barrier between traffic and the assembly, providing a space in which citizens can peacefully gather, and the City can still function, according to Compton.
The Chief Police also encouraged protesters to seek a Right of Way Permit with the City of Lawrence.
During this action, police issued three notices to appear and arrested six individuals for violating K.S.A. 8-1503.
Police were also investigating two incidents of vehicles driving on Mass Street during the assembly. One occurred just before 2 p.m., and the second just before 4 p.m. At this time, we have no reports of injuries.
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LAWRENCE —The police in Lawrence and the Douglas County Sheriff's office on Monday afternoon asked citizens protesting near 13th and Massachusetts Street to move to an alternate location so that the road can reopen for travel and commerce, according to police spokesman Patrick Compton.
"We acknowledge and appreciate the right of our citizens to assemble peacefully. However, we are asking those individuals currently on Massachusetts Street to do so in a safer location out of the roadway.
Should individuals refuse to relocate to an alternate location, they will be issued a notice to appear under K.S.A. 8-1503, and active refusal will result in arrest.
The City's Municipal Services and Operations will then assist with the cleanup of Massachusetts Street so it can reopen to normal traffic patterns."
Check to Post for additional details as they become available.