Protests continue in Columbia on Thursday

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Thursday night marked another night of protests in Columbia.

The demonstration remained calm as law enforcement escorted the crowd around parts of the city. The group went from downtown toward the Business Loop and back to the Columbia Police Department. At times protestors chanted and temporarily blocked traffic downtown, but remained peaceful.

The protests over the last seven days have been in response to the death of George Floyd.

Floyd died on May 25 after a police officer in Minneapolis knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes. His death sparked outrage and nationwide protests.

A protest was organized in Columbia for May 29 and demonstrations have continued each day since. While the protests have remained mostly calm, two protesters were struck by cars at the Broadway and Providence intersection Monday night.

The next day, Police Chief Geoff Jones released a statement saying that the department would place officers around the city.

"We are committed to supporting peaceful protests while ensuring the public’s safety. As demonstrations continue to take place in our community, officers will ensure the safety of our residents while supporting demonstrators’ constitutional rights," Jones said.

Jones urged protesters to keep out of intersections.

"For the safety of both demonstrators and motorists, we are requesting individuals not block the intersection of the roads," Jones said. "We value our community and our neighbors and will continue to work together to maintain safety and security for all."