Many entrances to downtown Dayton are blocked today as cleanup continues after damage and violence followed an initially peaceful Saturday noon protest.
Damage was visible at several buildings in the city Sunday morning from the local protests of the police custody death of George Floyd, who was killed in Minneapolis while in police custody Monday.
PHOTOS: Damage in the aftermath of Saturday protests in Dayton
Northbound and eastbound entrances to downtown Dayton were blocked by large trucks as residents walked the streets, some surveying damage and some helping clean up.
The Victoria Theatre and the historic courthouses were among the damaged structures from the protests.
This morning, Dayton-area resident Joe Joyce was helping clean up debris off the street downtown. Joyce said that he and another Dayton resident came to clean up after the protests.
PHOTOS: Protesters, police clash Saturday night in downtown Dayton
Joyce said he wished to be there to support the protesters, but he explained that he had a young child and did not feel safe approaching the protests.
“I wanted support all aspects of the community, I want to make sure every culture feels supported, every individual feels supported,” Joyce said.
Joyce said he feels empathy for those who protested Saturday.
“I feel pain, not for myself, but for those that felt that drive to feel the need to stand up and break something. I wanted to help address it in any way I could, so I could pick up trash or a trash can,” he said.
Jordan Buffington, from Beavercreek, was cleaning up a broken window in front of Lily’s Bistro in the Oregon District. She said she wanted to help out, but she did not want to face tear gas and large crowds. She thought the protesters were justified in their anger.
At least 15 arrested, 1 deputy injured during protests in Dayton Saturday
Initial reports from police indicate that many people who were arrested during the protests were not from Dayton. Buffington mentioned that in her interview.
“It goes to show you that people doing the damage aren’t people out here for a reason, they’re here for personal gain,” she said. “The community and the cause aren’t the ones doing damage.”
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