Small demonstration held in Sikeston Friday

Tuesday, June 2, 2020

SIKESTON — An impromptu demonstration that was mostly subdued was held in Sikeston late Friday afternoon.

Sikeston resident and former councilman Michael Harris addressed the demonstration to Sikeston City Council at Monday’s meeting. Harris said the demonstration which went from Lincoln Park to Sikeston DPS was a good thing but it could have been negative because there was little adult supervision. Sikeston City Manager Jon Douglass said the event was mainly organized on Facebook and there was little advance notice of the demonstration. Sikeston Mayor Steven Burch said Council was made aware of the demonstration an hour before it began.

Despite the late notice, Sikeston DPS did offer a lead and follow car but they were declined “with choice words and told their assistance wasn’t needed,” said Capt. Ryan Smith of Sikeston DPS. Officers did keep an eye on the demonstration and at one point urged demonstrators to the sidewalk for safety.

Harris said he saw some of the Facebook posts and “turned them off pretty quickly when I saw some of the choice words,” but felt an adult could have helped keep the young protestors off the road and keep some of the talk down.

Sikeston councilwoman Onethia Williams said she spoke with a woman from the NAACP who was guiding the demonstrators on what they could and couldn’t do and said that “they did good for the most part,” adding there was one or two who may have stepped over the line in some of the things said.

Harris offered his services if another demonstration were to be held to make sure there was some additional adult supervision.

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