MADISON (WKOW) -- Madison city leaders came together to urge for calm while also promising to protect the First Amendment right to demonstrate in the lead up to a verdict in the Derek Chauvin trial.
Local elected officials, police officers and community leaders held a press conference Monday afternoon to address the tension surrounding the trial and fear that violence could again erupt in response to the anticipated verdict.
"I am hopeful that we can walk this road together," said Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway.
Chauvin, a former Minneapolis police officer, is accused of murdering George Floyd.
Video of Chauvin kneeling on Floyd's neck for several minutes sparked protests around the country, including in Madison wherepeaceful demonstrations turned violentand ended with businesses looted, windows smashed and a police squad set ablaze.
In response, Madison police in riot gear used tear gas and pepper spray to move people off of State Street where many of the demonstrations concentrated. The protesters were speaking out against some of the vary tactics and weapons the officers employed.
Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes, who is only weeks into leading the department, said that he had been meeting with community groups and organizers of protests. Barnes has repeatedly said that he wants the department to improve the amount of communication it does with the public.
Barnes said that police would be ready if they are needed. He warned that police may not always be highly visible in Madison's downtown, but that they would be nearby and keeping a close eye on developments, ready to respond if needed.
He expects things to be different, with a new ideology called the Madison Method.
Chief Barnes said their intention is to protect people first then property.
When pressed, he said. the use of tear gas and pepper spray is still on the table but intends for them only to be used when people's safety is at risk.
"It's not something that quite frankly I lose a lot of sleep over because we don't plan on using that because we believe that our protesters will be peaceful," Chief Barnes said. "We'll be using some of our community to mitigate people when their emotions may run a little high."
However, he also said they may reach a point where "disruptive behavior" would put people in danger and they would have to step up their role.
"Such behaviors like arson, prolonged disruption of traffic patterns and physical assaults take away from the meaningful message of any demonstration and in my humble opinion are a form of counter protest," he said.
Michael Johnson, who leads the Boys and Girls Club of Dane County and has been a voice for calm amid the unrest, encouraged both protesters and police to resist getting sucked into a situation that could be destructive for the community.
"There needs to be accountability," Johnson said. "There needs to be healing on both sides of the equation."
More at WKOW 27 News