Several hundred people gathered in Casper on Wednesday to take part in a peaceful protest of the death of a Minneapolis man at the hands of police.
The protest organized by Casper Youth for Change saw protesters march in silence about one-half mile, from the David Street Station to Casper’s Hall of Justice.
Although the Casper Police Department had advised downtown Casper businesses to close during the rally because of fears it might grow violent, the gathering was peaceful, ending with participants listening to comments at the Hall of Justice.
Before the event, CYC, in a posting on its website, asked participants to protest peacefully.
“You will be asked to leave if you are causing a disturbance,” the posting said.
The protest was one of several held across the state in the wake of the death of George Floyd, a black man who was killed by police while being taken into custody.
Protests have also been held in communities including Cheyenne, Jackson, Laramie, Gillette and Rock Springs. All have been peaceful, in contrast to protests held elsewhere since Floyd’s death which have devolved into rioting.
The protesters in Casper marched in silence at the request of George Floyd’s uncle, who spoke with CYC spokesman Tanner Ewalt, according to the group’s Facebook page.
“He asked that as we march we remain completely silent,” the posting said. “Both as a way to take a moment of silence for George Floyd and other victims of injustice, but also because it will help to keep our protest peaceful.”