Bloomington Mayor John Hamilton didn’t get far in his annual State of the City address before protesters took over.
A local Black Lives Matter group disrupted the address as the mayor talked about an armored vehicle police will start using this summer.
“I asked the police department to conduct another public session earlier this week to dialogue when, how and why this public vehicle can be used for public safety and importantly when, how and why not to be used as well,” Hamilton said at the address.
Black Lives Matter Bloomington Organizer Vauhxx Booker stood up and interrupted Hamilton’s speech. Others seated throughout the Buskirk-Chumley Theater started shouting out, too.
“You can talk a great game about trying to stand up for people and not invoking violence, but you want to put a war machine on the streets,” a protester said.
Another shouted, “You just want the public to know what you’re doing … you don’t care what we’re actually saying. And you’re not listening to us.”
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Hamilton asked to proceed with his remarks, but twelve minutes of debate and shouting continued until a recess was called.
The State of the City Address is considered a special session of City Council, so no public comment is allowed. During the recess, Bloomington Police Chief Mike Diekhoff, along with others, tried to convince the protesters to restore order and continue the address.
But as Hamilton tried to start again, the protesters became louder and Hamilton had to adjourn.
“We’re not going to arrest anybody, I will publish these remarks so you can hear them all,” Hamilton said. “You have seen a demonstration in Bloomington tonight. Thank you for all you’re doing for Bloomington.”
The protest was part of a Facebook event called “Blacklivesmatter Disrupts The State.” It called to stop the ongoing militarization of local police departments, in particular the city’s $250,000 purchase of an armored police vehicle without public notification.
Booker says sitting outside with signs isn’t enough to catch the attention of public officials.
“This disrupts that process, it’s something near and dear to the mayor, he tends to like these speeches, and creates that uncomfortability in people that is going to continue to have people have a dialogue,” Booker says.
Hamilton says he understands people have different views and it’s appropriate to express them in the proper forum.
“It’s unfortunate that a large public meeting was hijacked by a few people with some electronic assistance, but we’ll continue doing the good work – I’m proud of what’s happening in Bloomington and we’ll continue the discussion,” Hamilton says.
The State of the City Address will be posted on the city's website.
