Gov. Mark Gordon is proud of protesters and law enforcement officers in Wyoming for the way they have behaved during demonstrations following the death of a Minnesota man at the hands of police, he said Thursday.
Gordon praised protesters and police during a news conference Thursday, saying they treated each other with respect.
“I wanted to express how extremely proud I am of Wyomingites around the state who felt it was proper and appropriate to demonstrate peacefully and did so,” he said. “I also want to thank our law enforcement officers who have not had to make arrests and have handled themselves professionally and with respect for protesters.”
Demonstrations have been held in a number of Wyoming communities, including Casper, Cheyenne, Jackson, Gillette, Riverton, Laramie and Rock Springs, to protest the death of George Floyd while being taken into custody by Minneapolis police.
The demonstrations have all been peaceful, in contrast to rioting and looting seen at other protests around the country.
“When these protests become violent, they become criminal behavior and nothing more,” Gordon said. “We would rather see the peaceful, respectful demonstrations that advance the message more effectively.”
