INDIANAPOLIS

Live updates: After brief confrontation, police agree to walk with protesters

Ginger Rough
Indianapolis Star

Protesters gathered Downtown for the fourth straight day Monday afternoon, marching through the streets toward Monument Circle. Meanwhile, IndyStar is tracking numerous other developments related to the civil unrest and racial tensions flaring around the country.

Protesters will keep walking — and so will police 

Following a brief confrontation with police at the intersection of 46th and Illinois, protesters and police have agreed the demonstration will continue for another block — walking together.  

As word of the compromise reached the crowd, protesters erupted in applause. Officers and protesters began shaking hands and taking selfies. 

"My heart feels so much better right now," one protester said.   

Police are now speaking with representatives from the protesters group

Police give protesters 10-minute warning

Upon reaching the governor's mansion, protesters encountered a line of law enforcement blocking the intersection of 46th and Illinois streets. Protesters were given a 10-minute warning to disperse or face "reasonable force" or be subject to arrest.

Just after 8:30 p.m., the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department thanked the protesters for their "peaceful protest and cooperation with law enforcement" and instructed them to return to their cars and make their way home. 

Marching continues past curfew

About 10 minutes after curfew began, the protesters reached Butler Tarkington, nearing the governor's official residence. 

At one point during the march, officers appeared to be blocking the street just south of the governor's mansion, but dispersed before protesters reached them. 

The more than 4-mile march was peaceful. As of 8:30 p.m., protesters were within half a block of the governor's residence, and there had been no escalation or major confrontation with police. 

Protesters say they're marching to governor's mansion

About 150 demonstrators continue marching north out of Downtown, apparently heading to Gov. Eric Holcomb's official residence, near 47th and Meridian. 

They were still on the move at 8 p.m. as Indianapolis was under curfew for the second straight night.

Trump promises to mobilize federal resources to combat protesters, 'dominate the streets'

President Trump's Monday evening address in the Rose Garden came as hundreds of protesters surrounded the White House grounds for the fourth day of protests in Washington, D.C.

He pledged to be a "law and order" president, promising to mobilize federal resources to "stop the rioting and looting." 

More from USA TODAY:Protesters cleared out of White House area with tear gas as Trump promised to 'dominate the streets'

With 1 hour left until curfew, protesters march Indianapolis streets

With just over an hour left before the 8 p.m. Marion County curfew goes into effect, hundreds of protesters were marching north on Illinois Street toward I-65. Several bicyclists are leading the way, and the group has been leaving one lane of traffic open for cars to travel on north Illinois Street.

Traffic restrictions in effect Downtown as curfew nears

Traffic access to Downtown is being cut off as the 8 p.m. county-wide curfew approaches. Diversions extend from the White River on the west side, I-65 on the east side, I-65 on the north side and McCarty Street and I-70 on the south side. 

Those exempted from the curfew include residents who are travelling directly to and from work, those who are seeking medical care or fleeing from dangerous environments, first responders, members of the news media, those experiencing homelessness and public officials who are conducting "necessary work."

The curfew is in effect from 8 p.m. Monday until 4 a.m. Tuesday.

Carmel mayor threatens to sue Minneapolis for costs of protecting against riots

Carmel Mayor Jim Brainard on Monday said the city has retained outside legal counsel and is planning to take action against the city of Minneapolis, alleging the negligence of their police department has burdened Carmel and other cities with the costs of riots following protests over uses of force against black men and women. 

Full story here: Brainard threatens to sue Minneapolis for costs of protecting against riots

Demonstrations begin in Hamilton County

More than 300 Fishers students and their families staged a demonstration behind City Hall Monday calling for an end to police brutality.

The students, in coordination with the Fishers police, marched in circles around the green at the Fishers Nickel Plate Amphitheater. Like their counterparts at other protests around the country they chanted slogans and held home-made signs and held a “die-in” for the length of time Minneapolis resident George Floyd had a knee applied to his neck by police before dying.

“No justice, no peace” and “Black lives matter,” the students yelled. One sign read, “Being black shouldn’t be a death sentence.”

Morgan Joiner, 17, attended with her mother and said it provided a valve to release frustration. She had not been to the Indianapolis protests but watched coverage of them.

“Even though we can talk about it on social media it isn’t the same,” said Joiner, a Fishers High student. “I felt like I needed to express my concern.”

Purdue University freshman Danielle Bellamy, 19, said she wanted to show her displeasure with how blacks are often treated by police.

“I see my father and family unjustly pulled over by police and treated unfairly and this is a way today to say  something,” said Bellamy, a graduate of Fishers High.

Bellamy’s mother said African Americans live in constant fear of how they will be treated by police.

“What happened to George Floyd is what every mother like me worries about, that you’re son, daughter or husband will get stopped and be seriously injured or worse,” Reecia Bellamy, 49,  said.

The students wore black shirts  and made many of the signs on site. Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness said the students approached him about the protest and suggested the plan.

“They were frustrated they didn’t have a localized way to express themselves,” he said.

In nearby Carmel, several hundred people marched through the city's Arts and Design District. 

Sarah Piesley, 20, lives in Carmel and attended some of the Indianapolis protests this weekend. She said it's important to have this kind of demonstration in predominantly white Hamilton County cities. 

"This message does not stop in Indy," she said.

As the marching continued along the Monon Trail, one protester reminded the group of the Marion County curfew, set to begin at 8 p.m.: "Go home when you need to." 

Mayor Hogsett and IMPD chief address weekend protests in Indianapolis

Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett and IMPD officials addressed the media Monday afternoon regarding a violent and chaotic weekend in the state’s capital city. Here are three takeaways:

Mayor Hogsett is concerned by some interactions between protesters and officers: Hogsett said he has “serious concerns” about some of the interactions between officers and protesters over the weekend and said it “represents the exact reason why we recently adopted changes to the way we review uses of force by police officers.” He said the process will involve “significant civilian participation.”

Taylor to submit a reformed use of force policy: Hogsett reinforced that he has asked IMPD Chief Randal Taylor to submit a reformed use of force policy within the next two weeks. Taylor said IMPD has been made aware of several videos showing use of force between officers and protesters. “While I don’t have enough information to make a determination on any disciplinary action, I can tell you that this type of incident is exactly the type of incident the new use of force review board we are creating is reviewing,” he said. 

Taylor addresses impact of tear gas: Taylor addressed the use of tear gas during Sunday’s protests, which impacted a group of individuals who were peacefully protesting. “These peaceful individuals were impacted by our efforts IMPD officers took to address aggressive and potentially violent individuals located nearby,” he said. “These individuals encircled a group of officers who attempted to arrest someone that was spray-painting our monument. Tear gas is distributed widely and drifts with the wind. My sincere apologies to anyone who has been acting peacefully in downtown this weekend that was inadvertently impacted by the tear gas. Every resident of our city deserves to have an opportunity to peacefully demonstrate. They do not have the right to inflict hurt on others, public property, or our city’s businesses.”

Gov. Holcomb addresses Trump phone call with U.S. governors

Holcomb took part in a conference call with President Trump and the nation's governors today, with Trump reportedly calling them "weak" for their response to protests and riots in cities across the country. 

He also told them to arrest those who act violently and destroy property.

Asked about the call at a press briefing, Holcomb didn't address the president's tone or allegations that governors are weak. He said the president didn't want governors to "get caught watching the paint dry." 

Holcomb said the peaceful demonstrations are hijacked by those who want to create chaos and destruction. As the days grew late Friday and Saturday in Indianapolis, businesses throughout Downtown were vandalized. Sunday, Mayor Joe Hogsett declared a curfew and positioned police at intersections to essentially close Downtown. 

"We have to be ready," Holcomb said, "and we are." 

Further details can be found here.

Prosecutor declines to press charges

No criminal charges will be filed against more than three dozen people arrested in Indianapolis over the weekend during demonstrations against police-involved killings of people of color, and 14 other people were charged with felonies in connection with looting.

Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears said Monday that after a review of the cases, he has decided not to file charges against 41 nonviolent protesters arrested on Friday and Saturday.

“We will not file criminal charges against those who came downtown to stand against injustice and make their voices heard through peaceful demonstrations,” Prosecutor Ryan Mears stated. “For us, the unfortunate choices by a few will not dilute the critical message carried by the majority.”

Read more here.

Protesters to police: 'March with us'

Crowds shouted "No justice! No peace!" and "Hands up, don't shoot," and then "I can't breathe," an ode to George Floyd in Minneapolis, who died on Memorial Day after a now-former police officer knelt on his neck for more than eight minutes.

During that time, Floyd repeatedly said, "I can't breathe."

Protesters implored officers to "march with us." They eventually laid down at City Market.

“They’re scared of us,” one girl yelled. “That’s why they gassed us.”

Later, they blocked Delaware Street at Market Street.

“If they can stand on his neck for 8 minutes, we can stand on this street we paid for," one individual said.

As protesters made their way around Monument Circle, they repeated, "George Floyd, say his name."

Indianapolis under curfew Monday night

The protest comes hours after Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett announced a one-night extension of the curfew order for Marion County, effective from 8 p.m. Monday to 4 a.m. Tuesday. 

The new order ends earlier than Sunday night's curfew to accommodate the start of voting at 6 a.m.

Violation of the curfew order is a class B misdemeanor punishable by up to 180 days in jail and fines of up to $10,000. 

Indianapolis was rocked over the weekend with violence and riots after two days of peaceful demonstrations during the daylight hours. Two men were killed Saturday night, including a teenager and ex-IU football player Chris Beatty. 

Numerous businesses were vandalized, some were looted and fires were set in the streets and near buildings. 

Indianapolis police praised those who organized the daytime demonstrations, including a large faith-based gathering Sunday, but said the evening chaos was caused by bad actors intent on destruction.

By Sunday evening, police flooded Downtown with a large police presence, engaging protesters with tear gas even before the 8 p.m. curfew was in effect.

Taylor acknowledged interactions between officers and demonstrators today has included tear gas, including when tear gas was deployed at a peaceful protest on Monument Circle. 

This story will be updated.