Miami Cops Suffer Minor Injuries; Downtown Statues Spray-Painted

MIAMI, FL — Seven people were arrested in downtown Miami Wednesday and several police officers suffered minor injuries after statues of Christopher Columbus and Juan Ponce De Leon were doused with red spray paint during what began as a peaceful protest over the death of George Floyd.

"The officers were in fact assaulted, however they didn't sustain any serious injuries to the point where they had to be transported to the hospital," Officer Kiara Delva told Patch Thursday. She said one protester smashed out the front window of an unmarked police car with a skateboard.

"The people obviously knew it was a police car," Delva said. "Although it was unmarked, it had police lights while they smashed out the front windshield of the car."

Officer Mike Vega of the Miami Police Department said the protest had been peaceful until officers moved in to arrest three demonstrators after the statues had been spray painted.

"The officers went in and arrested these three individuals, however the crowd then turned on us," Vega told reporters. "We're all for peaceful protesting. We're here to protect you while you are protesting, however, the city of Miami has zero tolerance for vandalism, injuring any of our officers, or anybody in the public."

Police released video of the dozens of protesters scattering in multiple directions as officers moved in to find the people responsible for spray-painting the statues.

A hammer and sickle was spray painted on the base of the Columbus statue along with a reference to George Floyd, who was laid to rest earlier in the day.

U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio criticized the use of the symbol "because nothing says justice more than a Soviet hammer and sickle," the senator responded on social media.

The hammer and sickle is reminiscent of the former Soviet Union's symbol that was meant to represent the union of agricultural and industrial workers.

Miami police said they did not arrest any of the peaceful protesters during the demonstration that along Biscayne Boulevard and 4th Street not far from Bayside Marketplace.

To report a tip regarding the vandalism of the statues or the confrontation with police, call the Miami Police Department at 305-579-6111. Alternatively, contact Miami-Dade Crime
Stoppers at 305-471- TIPS (8477), visit www.crimestoppersmiami.com and select
“Give a Tip” or text "CSMD" followed by the tip information to 274637.