Asbury Park: Praise For Protesters, Several Arrests, 3 Cops Hurt

ASBURY PARK – Officials on Tuesday praised marchers at Asbury Park's protest for George Floyd even though several people were arrested and three officers were hurt.

Asbury Park officials released a statement, saying the city is home "to one of the most diverse communities in the state of New Jersey. As mayor and council, we value the constitutional right to freedom of speech, and always encourage peaceful public discourse and debate on all issues of public concern."

Read more: WATCH: Chants, Unity, Clashes In Asbury Park George Floyd Protest

"We are incredibly proud of the Asbury Park community for holding a peaceful and powerful protest last night in support of social justice and police accountability," the statement said. "Thousands of attendees gathered in our city exercising the rights guaranteed to all citizens."

Officials said there were a few incidents after the Monday rally which resulted in arrests and injuries, including injuries to two officers from assisting agencies and an Asbury Park officer requiring hospitalization.

"We are disappointed in the actions of a few that tried to take our community’s peaceful protest in a different direction," the statement said. "As mayor and council, we, along with the Asbury Park Police Department, stand in full solidarity with the Asbury Park community in denouncing the actions of the officers involved in the murder of George Floyd and any acts of police misconduct."

The event was civil until the last hour, when there were several clashes with police. Police even took a knee on several occasions to oblige the protesters demands.

Jen Coombs, a reporter for Time to Change-Jersey Style, also reported that a police officer was hurt as she captured live video of the scene. One person threw a metal object and was handcuffed, as shown on the video below.

She captured several incidents that began to happen at the 5-hour mark on her video (used with permission):

Organizers started the protest at the Asbury Park Post Office at 806 Bangs Ave. at 5 p.m., and an 8 p.m. curfew was set. But the protests went well beyond the curfew hour as police watched.

Police appeared to form a line across the streets after 10 a.m. A video showed a tussle between police and another person, and The Asbury Park Press reported that one of its journalists was arrested:

Many of the marchers chanted "no justice, no peace." Some argued with police officers, while others had their pictures taken with them.

In several instances, a group of officers took a knee when protesters chanted, "Take a knee." Many cheered, and some of the marchers even walked over and hugged the police.

Postal service was also suspended in parts of the city. City officials said everyone is expected abide by the curfew and be at their residence.

The exceptions were to be emergent circumstances or traveling to and from your place of business.

"Let's stand in solidarity against the systemic racial injustice and police brutality," organizers said, while they also asked people to wear a mask and practice social distancing.

Here are photos from the rally, courtesy of Mark Doyle: