TRENTON – Over one thousand protesters gathered at the State House and later marched to the Trenton Police Station.
The protest began at 3PM with powerful words from speakers addressing the issues of police brutality and the recent death of George Floyd. A small vigil was held where supporters could leave candles and flowers
Shortly after 4PM, the demonstrators marched, down State St passing City Hall and the Fire Department and regrouping at the Trenton Police Station.
At the police station, some officers and municipal staff put their hands in the air and bowed to their knees. Many protesters were supportive of these actions. A few water bottles were hurled at Police but the protest organizers claimed participants unrelated to the group were the instigators.
On the return march to the State House, many motorists joined in the positive theme of the protest by honking horns, waving signs and clapping through open windows and sunroofs.
When regrouped at the State House, some protesters gathered on both sides of W. State Street showing signs to passing motorists. A passing photographer told #EyesOnNJ News that an NJ Transit bus traveling south-bound became stuck in the protest and when an Police SUV attempted to clear a path, some activists threw water bottles at the SUV.
A smaller group of the protest then traveled south on W State Street later regrouping outside a PNC Bank. Protesters continued with positivity by chanting, dancing to songs and smiling.
The group later traveled further south down W State Street where some garbage cans were visibly turned over. #EyesOnNJ did observe some protesters picking up the trash and return the garbage can to its original place.
While filming the summation report, #EyesOnNJ News was met with mixed reactions. Some were positive and supportive while others were not.
While filming some concluding B-Roll to help tell the story visually, #EyesOnNJ observed a fleet of vehicles belonging to Mercer County Sheriff, NJSP and about 15 unmarked SUVs.
It was at this point that tensions between the remaining protesters and police grew higher. One brick was used to smash the driver side window of a Trenton Police SUV which triggered a continuation of repeated blows by folks in the street. Within minutes, three SUVs were totaled and later set on fire.
Police then set up a wall of officers moving south-bound in an effort to move the large crowd away from the burning SUVs. The sounds of burning tires blowing out mimicked explosions.
Police fired airborne canisters which sent many protesters running off E. State Street.
Smaller groups began to loot local pharmacies, liquor and clothing stores in addition to smashing store fronts. #EyesOnNJ cameras captured folks racing out of Snipes clothing store with hands full of stolen merchandise.
#EyesOnNJ News founder, John Edmunds IV, later traveled to NJ Weedman’s Joint to learn of an attempted burglary of Capital Jewelry located at 308 E State St.
Ed Forchion, aka, “NJWeedman” shared with #EyesOnNJ News that after downtown Trenton was locked down, looters traveled to neighboring towns including a Walmart on Route 33 in Hamilton Township.
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