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Sign-wielding protesters marched along streets in Suffolk and Nassau County over the weekend, chanting rallying cries as the two-week anniversary of Floyd’s death approached on Monday, June 8.
Most of the protests remained peaceful, though nearly a dozen protesters were arrested on Saturday, June 6, when two Nassau County Police Department officers suffered injured attempting to suppress them.
In Merrick, Nassau County Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder said that after five days of peaceful protests with no arrest, 10 adults and one minor were arrested for disorderly conduct on Saturday, as officers made repeated attempts to keep protesters off the Meadowbrook Parkway.
Two officers suffered minor injuries during the exchange with protesters.
“This safety precaution was met with strong opposition and resistance which resulted in the arrests of these subjects,” the county said in a statement. “Nassau County Police officers are highly trained professionals and for days at multiple demonstrations, had positively engaged with protesters at all events, even during some tense moments.
Nassau County Executive Laura Curran said that “we continue to support the rights of individuals who exercise their freedom of speech according to the First Amendment; however, these demonstrations must remain safe and orderly.
“For the safety of protesters and motorists, the Meadowbrook and Southern State parkways in Nassau County are not available for marchers, pedestrians, or bicyclists,” she continued. “The parkways will be patrolled by State Police.”
Gov. Andrew Cuomo today announced the state is expanding COVID-19 testing criteria to include any individual who attended any of the recent protests across the state.
Cuomo encouraged any individual who attended a protest to get a test. More information on where and how to get tested for COVID-19 is available at coronavirus.health.ny.gov.
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