KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City, Missouri, City Council and Mayor Quinton Lucas will hold a virtual town hall on Tuesday night to discuss local policing after four days of protests in the city sparked by the death of George Floyd, a black man, at the hands of Minneapolis police last week.
Kansas City Police Chief Rick Smith, Police Commissioner Bishop Mark Tolbert and the Office of Community Complaints also will be available for questions during the town hall, which will be held at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday over Zoom, a video conferencing service.
Third District Councilwoman Melissa Robinson announced the town hall, saying it would “provide a productive place for protesters to voice their concerns and solutions as well as learn about local efforts underway to improve Kansas City policing.”
Over the weekend, three days of protests drew thousands of people to the streets of Kansas City. The police department said Monday that 151 people were arrested over the three days, and 20 officers were injured as a result of being struck by flying objects, including two who required hospitalization.
On Monday, smaller protests remained mostly peaceful until later in the evening, when police deemed the protest an unlawful assembly and objects were again seen being thrown at officers. Police estimated around 20 people were arrested Monday, though final numbers have not yet been provided.
Earlier Monday, Smith and Lucas gathered with protesters on the Country Club Plaza and knelt with them, bowing their heads in a moment of silence for Floyd.
Cities across the United States have held protests in the wake of Floyd’s death. Floyd was killed on Memorial Day after a now former Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes as Floyd pleaded that he could not breathe.
The officer, Derek Chauvin, was charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter, but the other officers involved in Floyd’s death have not been charged.
Robinson said that those who wish to speak at the town hall Tuesday can register online at MelissaRobinson.org.
The Zoom ID to join the town hall is 824 0769 4970, and the password is 013611.
