Gallup police mobilizing for Floyd rally
GALLUP
A rally to highlight an incident that ended in tragedy last week will be held today in Gallup.
Gallup Police Capt. Erin Toadlena-Pablo said on Wednesday, more than 30 people are expected to protest the death of George Floyd, a 46-year-old Minneapolis man who died on May 25 while being restrained by Minneapolis police.
Toadlena-Pablo said about 30 police officers from Gallup, the McKinley County Sheriffs Office, New Mexico State Police and Navajo Nation Police will be patrolling the city during the rally, which began at 4 p.m.
“We’re coming in in different shifts. We’ll also be responding to calls for service, regular calls for service,” Toadlena-Pablo said.
Protests around the country surrounding Floyd’s death began peacefully but some have become violent.
Toadlena-Pablo said the rally should be peaceful as protestors exercise their right to assemble.
She added the potential for the rally to become violent or looting to happen like in other cities was a possibility the police department was prepared to handle.
“I think what are our objective here is to be more proactive, instead of reacting to things are going to happen later,” she said. “So that’s what we’re preparing for.”
The captain added protestors are required to wear masks and to adhere to the six-foot social distance requirements since New Mexico public health orders are still in effect due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The rally is scheduled to be held at the Golden Corral Restaurant in north Gallup.
Highway 264,
I-40, WB @ Winslow