About The times. (Gainesville, Ga.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (June 3, 2020)
4A Midweek Edition - June 3-4, 2020 The Times, Gainesville, Georgia | gainesvilletimes.com LOCAL Officials react to killing of Floyd, Gainesville protests BY MEGAN REED mreed@gainesvilletimes.com Gainesville officials said Mon day that they supported peaceful protests and were open to conver sations with community members about their concerns. Protesters gathered in down town Gainesville Saturday and Sunday, joining other groups nationwide following the death of George Floyd, a black man who died in police custody in Minne apolis when an officer pressed his knee into Floyd’s neck for sev eral minutes. Other recent deaths include Breonna Taylor, who was killed in Louisville, Kentucky, when police served a warrant at her home, and Ahmaud Arbery, who was fatally shot in Brunswick while jogging. Police made several arrests in Gainesville over the weekend for charges including disorderly con duct and public drunkenness. The Confederate monument on the downtown square, known as “Old Joe,” was also vandalized. Mayor Danny Dunagan said the city would have “zero tolerance as far as anybody vandalizing or loot ing anything.” “I fully support the First Amend ment and the right to protest in a mannerly way, but those that decided to go the other way disap point me. We’re a better town than that,” he said. City officials are considering a curfew like the one enacted in Atlanta following protests there, Dunagan said. “Hopefully, we won’t have to do it, but we are looking at it strongly,” he said. Dunagan encouraged people to express their views without violence. “We need to settle down and be calm and sit down and have a conversation on concerns that anyone has,” he said. “Let’s get back to some normal life.” Councilwoman Bar bara Brooks, who repre sents Gainesville’s largely minority district, said she hoped law enforce ment’s interference in the protests could be mini mized, “as long as civility prevails.” “I’ve been young before. I know how it feels not to have a voice and not to be able to express my opin ions in an environment that’s free,” she said. “I empathize with that, as long as things stay safe and stay civil.” Brooks said she planned to attend the Newtown Florist Club’s 5 p.m. meet ing Monday near the downtown pedestrian bridge to encourage people to express their concerns to the Gainesville City Council. “There are ways that you can be heard in an organized and civil fashion, where you can really perhaps get some attention and some results, rather than using the streets as the first resort rather than the last resort,” Brooks said. The Council’s next meeting is Tuesday, June 2, at 5:30 p.m. at the Public Safety Complex, 701 Queen City Parkway. Councilman Sam Cou- villon said Floyd’s death was “a punch to the gut to America.” “Our country has been founded on the ability to protest that injustice. That’s why I wasn’t sur prised we had a protest,” Couvillon said. “In my time in Gainesville, we have a very proud com munity, a very outspoken community.” Couvillon said commu nity forums like one held in Gainesville in the wake of the killing of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mis souri, could be helpful in continuing conversations started by the protests. The Gainesville Police Department’s efforts at community policing could also improve relationships moving forward, he said. Councilman George Wange- mann also said continuing the dia logue started by the protests could be a positive step, and “influence from all sides is a good thing.” “City Council members, being that they’re in the midst of the community and what’s going on in the community, I think we can be instruments in bringing about positive communication between the groups that have differences,” Wangemann said. U.S. Rep. Doug Collins, R-Gaines- ville, said that he was upset both by Floyd’s death and the protests that did not remain peaceful. “The killing of George Floyd is appalling. Every American should be outraged after witnessing the horrific brutality used against him, and I support every Georgian exercising their constitutional right to protest,” Collins said in a state ment. “But what we saw in Atlanta and across the nation over the weekend should devastate every American. Many peaceful protests were overtaken by rioters with the sole purpose of setting our cities on fire. These riots are - literally and figuratively - tearing our country apart.” Collins encouraged the commu nity to be united to find solutions. “Our community is strong, and now more than ever, we need to work together to bridge gaps. We need to work together to further our shared goals of justice, peace and prosperity for every one of our fellow citizens,” he said. “And we need to work together to love all of our neighbors, as we are all cre ated equal in the eyes of God.” Hall County Sheriff Gerald Couch said Floyd’s death had angered the law enforcement community. “The callousness, the disregard that was shown for George Floyd is sickening, and it leaves every one, including law enforcement, shocked and appalled and infuri ated. So, I completely understand the reasons for the protest,” he said. “I think people should exer cise their First Amendment rights, but of course that does not include any type of damaging property or breaking the law or infringing on someone else’s rights.” The Sheriff’s Office sent about 65 deputies to downtown Gaines ville on Saturday and Sunday night. The Oakwood Police Department also assisted. Couch said the actions of the Minneapolis officers did not rep resent the majority of the law enforcement community. “Those officers certainly do not represent all officers across this country. We have so many great people and public servants serv ing in law enforcement, especially here in this community,” Couch said. “Conduct like this, it hurts our reputation and standing in every community.” Floyd’s death and the ensuing protests highlight the need for community policing and commu nication, Couch said. “All of this, to me, is just a painful reminder that we have to continue as a community and as a nation to work on justice and work on rela tionships with the communities that we all serve,” he said. “We need to listen to concerns and also criticism, and we have to earn and work to keep the trust of our communities.” The Associated Press contributed. Couvillon NEWTOWN ■ Continued from 1A Florist Club leaders) getting older, and we can’t keep depending on them. It’s not their obligation to fight for black lives for their entire lives.” Both Lipscomb and Nor man stood among their peers on Monday, June 1, during a rally in downtown Gainesville led by the New town Florist Club. Norman, a University of Georgia honor student from Gainesville, spoke before the crowd of around 200 people and held a sign that read, “We are Tired.” “The main message I was wanting to get across is that everyone’s anger is justi fied, and a need to be heard and get out,” Norman said. “But to make a change, we also have to get involved in our community.” She is currently lead ing an outreach project with the Newtown Florist Club to inspire more voter engagement among college students. When Lipscomb first heard about Floyd’s death, she said her heart broke into pieces. “What if that was my brother?” she said. “It just hurt my heart, and just to think it’s not only George Floyd that died this way, it’s more than him. Every single name needs to be remembered.” Lipscomb said she started using social media as a platform to voice her feelings on the situation. She also joined in the New town Florist Club’s peace ful rally on Monday, and participated shortly after in the downtown Gainesville protest. “I went for a few minutes just to yell and scream,” she said. “It felt good to tell people that this isn’t right. People are out here dying.” Lipscomb is spearhead ing a candlelight vigil to honor Floyd and other vic tims of police violence at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday. The event will take place on the greenspace of the midtown pedestrian bridge overlook ing Jesse Jewell Parkway. Two years ago the young leader revived Newtown Florist Club’s program, Bright Teens United For a Future, also known as B-TUFF. Lipscomb said her goal is to equip local youth to become more productive members of society. She plans to launch a couple of new projects soon, includ ing one that educates teen agers on their rights. Lipscomb said her advice to the local youth would be to become more aware of the issues happening across the nation. “Read, research and educate yourselves,” she said. “You can never know enough. Don’t stop when you graduate (from high school). Even with the pan demic, don’t stop learning new stuff. Read the newspa per, look at the news. Don’t just be on social media.” The Rev. Rose Johnson, executive director of New- Two girls wearing face masks talk Monday, June 1, as hundreds gather during the Newtown Florist Club rally in Gainesville in reaction to the death of George Floyd and the issues of police brutality and systemic racism. Photos by SCOTT ROGERS I The Times Signs are written Monday, June 1, during The Newtown Florist Club rally in Gainesville in reaction to the death of George Floyd and the issues of police brutality and systemic racism. Rose Johnson, Newtown’s executive director, said the gathering is not a protest but a “community organizing event.” Hundreds gather Monday, June 1, during the Newtown Florist Club rally in Gainesville in reaction to the death of George Floyd and the issues of police brutality and systemic racism. town Florist Club, said both Lipscomb and Norman have played active leader ship roles in the civil rights group for years. She anticipates more young activists will soon make their voices heard. Since the protests and peace rally have taken place in Hall County, John son said she has witnessed a wave of young people seeking out ways to become involved in Hall County. “That’s just a very inspi rational moment in the life of our community,” John son said. When she is contacted by someone asking how they can help in the area, John son said she poses the ques tions, “What is the thing that makes you moved?” and “What is the thing that makes you realize how important it is for you to be active in your community?” PUBLIC NOTICE FOR THE HALL COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS FISCAL YEAR 2021 BUDGET All citizens are invited to attend meetings regarding the adoption of the proposed Fiscal Year 2021 Budget, to be held at the following times and locations: Thursday, June 11, 2020 at 6:00 pm: The proposed Fiscal Year 2021 Budget will be presented and a Public Hearing held at the regularly scheduled Commission meeting at the Hall County Government Center, 2 nd Floor, 2875 Browns Bridge Road, Gainesville, GA 30504. Thursday, June 25, 2020 at 6:00 pm: The Fiscal Year 2021 Budget and 2020 millage rates will be adopted at the regularly scheduled Commission meeting at the Hall County Government Center, 2 nd Floor, 2875 Browns Bridge Road, Gainesville, GA 30504. The proposed Fiscal Year 2021 Budget is available beginning Thursday, June 11, 2020, for public inspection during the regular office hours (8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday) in the Financial Services Department located at the Hall County Government Center, 4 th Floor, 2875 Browns Bridge Road, Gainesville, GA 30504.
