More than 2,000 people gathered on the Monroe County Courthouse square from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday, June 14, as part of the national “No Kings” protests.
National organizers described the “No Kings” events as a “nationwide day of defiance” in response to President Donald Trump and the military parade scheduled for the same time in Washington, D.C.
Chants by protesters drowned out the speakers and musicians who were sharing their views and music with participants on the stage set up at the southeast side outside the courthouse building.
Protesters continued despite rains that fell after the event began. There were no major incidents in during most of the first two hours of the event.
That changed at 1:40 p.m. when a black Honda Civic driving north on Walnut Street stopped at the intersection with Kirkwood Avenue.
After talking with some protesters, the man got out of the car, carrying a large stick and smashed out the back passenger-side window of his car. People watched as he got back in the car, throwing a backpack outside causing protestors to back away.
He then exited the car for a second time and one protester pinned him to the street and three additional protesters helped keep the main restrained and held him there until police officers arrived. The man was placed in handcuffs and put in the back seat of a Bloomington Police cruiser. There were nine BPD vehicles that converged on the scene, with the last leaving about an hour later.
Once the man and his car were removed, protesters continued their event, holding signs asking passing cars to honk their horns and shouting chants.
By 3 p.m., many of the protesters were leaving in small groups as the rally came to a close.
This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Bloomington No Kings protesters share chants, songs with 1 man taken away by police
Reporting by The Herald-Times / The Herald-Times
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
