Nearly 200 Easton Residents Protest Police Brutality

EASTON, MA — A protest of police brutality and vigil Sunday night in Easton drew between 150 and 200 people, and remained peaceful without incident, according to Easton Police Chief Gary Sullivan.

The Easton-based organizations Raising Multicultural Kids held the event at the Governor Oliver Ames Estate Community Park. It included a moment of silence in memory of those who have suffered from police brutality, including George Floyd, who was killed while being detained by police in Minneapolis last week.

Sullivan issued a statement Sunday, saying that the video of a the police-involved killing of Floyd "sickens me, as it sickens all good police officers who have chosen a profession where the protection and safeguarding of life, and putting lives of others ahead of our own, is paramount."

"As Chief of Police, I strongly denounce the actions of the four police officers in Minneapolis that led to the killing of George Floyd," Sullivan added of the protest. "But will also fully support the rights of the people of Easton to protest and voice their concerns. I'm grateful to serve a community and police department who can come together and peacefully exercise their First Amendment rights, which is a fundamental right for all in this great nation."

Raising Multicultural Kids seeks to increase opportunities for multicultural education for students in Easton. The organization was in contact and coordinated with the Easton Police Department prior to Sunday’s protest. Chief Sullivan said the protesters acted with dignity and respect while voicing their outrage at the recent events in Minneapolis.

More Patch Coverage: Bleary-Eyed Boston Takes Stock After Night Of Violent Chaos
Boston Rocked As Peaceful Protests Turn Violent

Providence Riots: Mall Stormed; 65 Arrested; Officers Injured
Thousands Of Protesters March In Boston