Protests continue in downtown Columbia

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Protesters took to the streets in downtown Columbia again Wednesday evening. Groups have been marching through streets and kneeling in intersections of downtown Columbia for several days.

One protester said the group who kicked off activity around 5 p.m. from the Boone County Courthouse is led by a group of friends, but not an official group. People have been gathering at the courthouse and then marching around 5 p.m. each night.

Demonstrators kneeled for nine minutes in several intersections to honor George Floyd.

Tensions rose when the group gathered at the intersection of Broadway and Seventh Street when a man driving a truck drove onto the sidewalk around protesters. The man later came back to the block and many people got up from the kneeling position and began to scatter.

Several minutes later two Columbia police officers pulled the man out of his truck and detained him.

An officer at the scene said he was arrested on suspicion of imprudent and careless driving and resisting arrest.

Protesters regathered after the man was detained and continued their march.

Several people spoke to the crowd at the steps of the Boone County Courthouse. One woman addressed two police officers who were escorting the crowd directly.

Several officers also listened to protesters in front of city hall.