FORT WORTH, Texas - There will be a curfew in place Monday night following demonstrations that got out of hand in the city.
Mayor Betsy Price said the 8 p.m. curfew was “as a result of last night and in the interest of public health and safety.”
As a result of last night and in the interest of public health and safety, I have executed a declaration of emergency and implemented an 8 p.m. curfew. I will be holding a press conference at noon with @fortworthpd @chiefkraus and Police Monitor Kim Neal to further discuss.— Betsy Price (@MayorBetsyPrice) June 1, 2020
Fort Worth police used tear gas, smoke and flashbangs Sunday night to end a standoff with hundreds of protesters on the 7th Street bridge.
Police blocked the bridge after hearing the protesters say they were going to cause damage to a nearby shopping center.
After several hours, police said the protesters set off fireworks and threw frozen water bottles and bottles filled with what they believe was bleach at officers. Three officers were injured.
Fort Worth police made the decision to deploy smoke to disperse the crowd for the first time in more than 30 years.
They slowly continued to push forward until the crowd left.
It was the first time in more than 30 years that Fort Worth police have made the decision to deploy smoke to disperse the crowd.
Fort Worth officials said social media posts indicated that Dallas and Denton enacted curfews Sunday night, some people were planning to head to Fort Worth instead.
They were concerned about a larger crowd than they'd seen the two previous nights.
The curfew will be in effect until at least Thursday. It could be extended at the next city council meeting.
People going to work and school in the area will still be allowed to do so.
