Hours after a protest demanding justice for George Floyd was held in Santa Maria, a crowd began to grow again at the intersection of Broadway and Cook Street and blocking the roadway.
Earlier in the day on Sunday, protesters carrying signs took over the street in front of the Santa Maria City Hall. By 6:30 p.m., much of the crowd had dissipated, and police said the protest had been peaceful.
After dark, more people began to arrive at the intersection with some people doing donuts in the street with their cars and setting off fireworks. A fire was also set in the middle of the street in front of City Hall. The flag in front of City Hall was also cut down.
Trying to stay a safe distance away but scary situation unfolding in downtown Santa Maria as the protests for justice for George Floyd continue. Fireworks are being set off, cars and bikes are doing donuts and there’s a fire set outside of city hall @KSBY pic.twitter.com/olqc6qpJCo
— Melissa Newman (@melnewmantv) June 1, 2020
Shortly after 10 p.m., a KSBY News crew near the scene was approached by a man who said he had been stabbed. Police were called and emergency crews arrived to tend to the man's wounds.
We had to move after a man was jumped and came up to us asking for us to call 911 for him as he bled on the sidewalk. The leader of Band of Brothers also approached us asking if it was safe to replace the American flag that was ripped down from City Hall but it’s too dangerous pic.twitter.com/SLx6S25kGm
— Melissa Newman (@melnewmantv) June 1, 2020
By 11 p.m., the crowd appeared to have left the intersection, and a large group of people broke into the Santa Maria Town Center Mall. Police were responding, but up until that point in the evening, officers had stayed at a distance from the crowd.
