Hutchinson businesses, police bracing for clash between protesters, white supremacists
The sun was out with no signs of rain, but Hutchinson businesses on Friday looked like their owners had bracing for a hurricane.
Windows were boarded up around town and fear had come over some residents as they prepared for a peaceful protest Saturday that has been threatened by white supremacy groups from around the state.
On Facebook, the protest organizer says the event is meant to draw awareness about police brutality in the wake of the death of George Floyd, who died on Memorial Day in police custody after a Minneapolis police officer kneeled on his neck for roughly nine minutes. The organizer says it is backed by the New Black Panther Party.
But officials fear a counter-protest by white supremacists could make the situation volatile.
The protest at 30th and Main was originally planned for Friday but moved to Saturday after law enforcement asked the organizers to move the event to be more prepared.
Jolene Hageman, who owns Hageman Accounting and Tax Service at a busy intersection near 4th and Main in downtown with her husband, Francis, said they finished remodeling in January after a car crashed through the front window in 2018. As of Friday morning, they were boarded up again.
”We just got done remodeling and we don’t want anything to happen to any of our hard work,” Hageman said, adding neighboring businesses advised they should do it. “I think in a situation like this everyone needs to be concerned.”
Mosaic Salon, which is next door to Hageman, is boarded up, too, as are several other businesses, including Anima Bella Salon, Spa & Boutique, Mi Tierra Restaurant and Cantina and Speedy Cash.
On Facebook, the Hutchinson NAACP said it did not support the protest and felt the one last Sunday, which involved the Hutchinson Police Department and community leaders, was constructive. The NAACP reshared the post Friday with an added caution.
“We have deep concern for the risk to black and brown Hutchinson residents at the increased level of threat upon demonstrators this weekend,” the post says. “We urge you to reread our position and to heed the warnings of the Hutchinson Police Department.”
The HPD said they have asked the organizers to cancel for “their own safety and the safety of our community.”
“In the event the protest continues as planned, the Hutchinson Police Department is urging community members to avoid the protest area and allow us to perform our duties in protecting both the community and the protesters,” the police department said in a Facebook post.
Hutch In Harmony, a grassroots community organization, also asked people to avoid the protest.
“Hutch In Harmony believes strongly in the national movement for Black Lives Matter and the urgent need for national policies in police reform,” according to a Facebook post. “However, as we have been made aware of extremist white supremacy groups across the state, making threats and plans against the protest tomorrow and the black and brown community in Hutchinson, we strongly urge the community to remain away from the local protest this weekend.”
The protest is planned for 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
This story was originally published June 5, 2020 at 7:51 PM.