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Sunday in Brazil
The City of Brazil was targeted on social media sites over the weekend by organizers of an event supposed to honor the memory of George Floyd. But the protest march announced to begin Sunday, May 31, at 6 p.m. at Craig Park was not going to be peaceful. As a flyer and posts on Facebook and other social media sites invited “protesters,” the plan was to incite violence as quickly as possible by “breaking every window” in town while walking from the park to Wal-Mart. However, no demonstration and no violence erupted.
Local law enforcement officials confirmed that the Clay County 911 Dispatch Center was inundated with calls from the public wanting to report concerns for the community, local businesses, and law enforcement officers.
“This had to be taken seriously,” said Assistant Police Chief Dennis Archer, who confirmed the Brazil Police Department worked in conjunction with the Clay County Sheriff’s Department to beef up a police presence in the city Sunday night. “We reached out to the Indiana State Police, who was dealing with situations in Indianapolis and Terre Haute, and they sent officers here too.”
The BPD, CCSD, ISP, and members of the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, as well as many other departments, were in the area, providing patrols and manpower well into the night.
“A peaceful protest is never a problem, that is their right, and we live in America,” said Archer, who understands the passion many feel about the injustice of how George Floyd died while in the custody of the Minneapolis Police. “We will help facilitate a safe event for them if they want to have a protest march here, but if there is criminal activity, we have to intervene.”
The biggest reason, Archer explained, there are not enough resources in rural communities to regulate a volatile situation if one occurred, even if it were only a hundred people.
“This is guilt by association situation. An officer did something wrong, and because we are law enforcement officers in a different state, to many, we are a target for that frustration,” said Archer. “We didn’t do anything wrong. We are doing our jobs for our community. We are doing it now to make sure everyone is safe.”
Thankfully no incidents of violence or mischief were reported along main street Monday morning. As thousands of people took to the streets in at least 75 cities nationwide, and peaceful protests about the injustice of a black man’s death gave way to violence, destruction, and chaos in larger cities. Something different happened in Brazil Sunday. The Times reporter at the scene shares the experience of how a group of people, who all wanted to remain anonymous because this wasn’t about one person or one opinion, they took a post on the main street of their hometown to stand watch together.
United We Stand...
As the patrols began along US 40, State Road 340, and around Craig Park, people also took to the streets.
Groups of motorcycles were also “cruising,” many wearing the colors of various groups – some Christian cyclists, veteran motorcycle groups, and even a few friendly groups of concerned citizens. But there were also several members of local “motorcycle gangs” wearing their colors while “helping to patrol” the roads.
“This is our hometown. We are all out here because we love this place. Our families and friends live here. Our kids go to school here,” said one anonymous rider who stopped at a gas station to fill up before returning to his volunteer patrol duty. “I’m not going to let someone put our small town on a terrorist’s list like that. I’m not here to start trouble. None of are. But no one is going to come here with threats to destroy a town and do it in front of all these witnesses. Yes, I’m watching you. I’m here all night if I have to.”
That was a common cause repeated by many of the people posted outside the storefronts along “Main Street.”
“We are not a mob of people causing trouble out here tonight,” said a man, who explained the rationale about remaining anonymous in the vigil. “We are out here helping business owners in our community. Many of these people have spent their lives building their businesses, providing jobs, and serving our community in so many ways. No one is going to threaten our community like that. We are out here to stand for each other too. They aren’t going to attack just one; we’re in this together.”
Those along the road were waving at the carloads of people, walking over to chat with others at a nearby building, making plans to help each other if the need arose.
“You would have to be a moron not to understand why people are upset about the injustice of how a man could die in the streets like that, and a police officer is involved. This is America, that isn’t supposed to happen to anyone. People want to protest to make their voices heard. I’m right there with them. I think everyone out here tonight feels the same way. We would walk with them now of this was a peaceful protest to honor George Floyd’s life, to exact change and make all lives matter,” said a woman, who brought dinner to her family. “The minute violence erupted, this stopped being a protest for change. Now, it’s an excuse for those with criminal intentions to run amuck and be marauders in the streets.”
“When people are grabbing TVs, burning down buildings, beating people, and God knows what else during what is supposed to be something to bring about honest dialog and change, that is no longer honorable,” said one of the family members talking about reports from other cities. “This isn’t what people started to do. Violence has tainted that idea. Until these protests stop, and there’s no reason for the criminal element to be in the streets anymore to stir up trouble, no good can come.”
Some people believe COVID-19 has exacerbated the riots.
“I’ve been cooped up at my house for two months because of COVID-19. I’m out of work, still dealing with unemployment issues, and yes, I hate to admit this, but I don’t know my family all that well. I’ve realized I was living a selfish life, not being a good man in many small ways that didn’t seem to matter before, but should have,” said a man watching the traffic. “We all have a lot of problems, and it isn’t going to be any easier as the future goes on. Why start burning cities down? I just can’t wrap my head around that logic.”
A lot of people were practicing social distancing, but not many were wearing masks Sunday.
“It’s a beautiful day. The Indiana State Health Department says outdoor events are ok for people. Still, I sure wish we could have just gathered out here to spend some positive time together,” said one lady, who was visiting a friend at a nearby apartment complex. “The virus is unsettling because I’m high-risk, but these riots are frightening to me. I remember the 60s and 70s, and I don’t want to see that happen again. None of this will ever be resolved until people understand that all lives matter. All of this that is happening in our nation is only creating the next generation of hate.”
As the start time passed, new meeting sites for the protesters and scouting reports about the regular patrols by law enforcement were being followed by officials and people on the street.
Others believed it was a hoax, but they weren’t taking any chances. Some business owners were planning to spend the night in their businesses.
“If they come in my door tonight, or any night this week, they are going right back out it,” said a local man who admits he has strong opinions.
He went on to say people would stand up for anyone’s right to a peaceful protest.
“There are veterans out here tonight that put the measure of their life on the line for that right,” he said. “Police officers are out here too, and don’t you think they don’t put their lives on the line every day. It was one crooked cop, in what seems like a crooked system in one state (responsible for the death of George Floyd.) That state is not Indiana, Yes, it was tragic. My prayers go out to Mr.Floyd’s family and friends. That man’s mother has come out and said this isn’t what her son would want to be remembered by. I know it’s harsh, but as long as these protests continue, they are giving an outlet to morons, like these numbskulls today tried to do here in Brazil, to pillage and destroy.”
“What I’ve seen out here tonight that I think people need to know is this: It’s not a big crowd of people out here, but there is a big cross-section of our community,” said one person. “Every age group is represented, and every religious group, all walks of life, veterans, and even a few self-proclaimed hippies. There are Trump supporters and all the other political inclinations too. Law enforcement and a few other people. This group of people should probably never be in the same place at the same time, and if they were, there would probably be a lively argument, to say the least, but tonight that’s not what happened. The people who live in podunk Brazil came together and got it right for once.”