WATERBURY, Conn. (WTNH) — A protest Sunday morning in Waterbury spilled onto Interstate 84, shutting the highway down in both directions near Exit 21 for approximately an hour.
The highway was reopened to traffic a little after 1 p.m. Sunday.
Protests gained steam once again hours later in the streets parallel to the highway. Protesters made their way to the Waterbury Police station where they were met by officers outside the station.
WPD said in a statement to News 8 Sunday afternoon they were “still just monitoring – the majority of participants in the protest departed and currently no one is damaging property.”
Around 9 p.m. police reported they had made 28 arrests in relation to the protests across the city throughout the day. WPD report they arrested eighteen females, eight males, and two juvenile males.
One protester addressed the crowd in the Brass City saying, “I thought it was only right to be a part of the change that must come in our city, state, and country.”
In footage from by the Hartford Courant, protesters are moved off the streets by Waterbury Police, and a small group is detained.
Waterbury Police reported Monday that no private or public property was damaged in the protests and no protesters were injured.
One WPD officer did sustain minor injuries to the hand and elbow while assisting in an arrest but is expected to make a full recovery.
This comes a day after protesters shut down Route 8 in Bridgeport for several hours when their protest shifted from city streets onto that highway.
Sunday’s protest in Waterbury began around 10 a.m. on the Waterbury green, and has remained a peaceful demonstration with marchers chanting “no justice, no peace” and “I can’t breathe.”
Protests have erupted all around Connecticut as well as the nation since last week, protesting police brutality following the death of George Floyd while in Minneapolis police custody.
Sunday evening Police Chief Fernando Spagnolo released a video reflecting on the protests and praising most protesters for remaining peaceful, but condemned a group that became “disruptive and blocked traffic.”
“I’m grateful for the officers and the work that they’ve been doing,” he said. “I’m grateful that no police officers have been injured today. I’m grateful that no citizen’s property has been damaged and no citizens have been injured.”
Watch full message below.
Waterbury Police Chief Fernando Spagnolo was in attendance at the protest Sunday morning.
