By Amanda Porter –
On Monday thousands of protesters gathered at City Hall in Worcester just a week after the death of George Floyd by a white cop in Minneapolis.
The protest which was organized by Worcester City Councilman At-Large Khrystian E. King was peaceful with speakers that included Massachusetts Trial Court Officer and community leader Woodrow Adams Jr.
Protesters then marched from City Hall to the Worcester Courthouse for a rally there. At that rally protesters including Worcester Police Officers and Worcester Police Chief Steven M. Sargent took a knee to remember George Floyd.
Protesters then marched back to City Hall where the protest had then ended.
It was a well oganized and peaceful protest where police officers and protesters could be seen interacting together. Again Chief Sargent was out and also Deputy Chief Edward J. McGinn was also out with protesters and was seen checking on police officers.
Hours after the protest had ended there were pockets of violent individuals who were breaking into businesses and attacking police officers. It appeared to be a well organized attack on the city.
Worcester Police said “At approximately 9:45 PM, Worcester Police officers observed a separate, unruly crowd of about fifty to seventy people in the area of Portland and Federal Street. Individuals in this group had thrown glass bottles at police cruisers.”
That group of about 70 people walked towards Main Street and then walked towards the Main South section of the city. Police say that the group was blocking traffic and “The mood was violent and chaotic,” police said.
At Hammond St. and Main St. the group surrounded a police cruiser. The officer in that cruiser called out for assistance and then ran from the cruiser on foot.
Some people even started shooting fireworks and Roman candles at officers who responded to assist that one officer who had been surrounded. Worcester Police say that one officer was struck in the chest by fireworks which burned his uniform and skin.
One individual, who was later identified as Vincent Eovarious, 18, of W Lake St, was on the roof of Pennywise Market, armed with several Molotov cocktails. Officers eventually were able to get him off the roof and he was arrested.
Worcester Police had Quick Reaction Teams organized and those team’s responded to area businesses that had been broken into including the Eblen’s at in Webster Square.
At one point a sergeant and a police officer were under attack in the area of the Eblen’s and yelling for help but there was no one to respond to help them. They were ordered by a Captain to pull back.
That sergeant, you could hear the frustration in his voice as he couldn’t get any officers assigned to his sector to respond to him. It turned out another sergeant from another sector had taken those officers with him.
Worcester Police have confirmed that the following19 people were arrested:
Vincent Eovarious – eighteen-years-old of W Lake St – Attempted Arson of a Dwelling, Disturbing the Peace, Attempt to Commit a Crime
Courtney Harriott, nineteen-years-old of Warner Ave – Disorderly Conduct, Disturbing the Peace
Sean Craig, twenty-two-years-old of Millbury – Disorderly Conduct, Disturbing the Peace
Ashley Briddon, twenty-two-years-old of Millbury – Disorderly Conduct, Disturbing the Peace
Taylor Atkinson, twenty-two-years-old of Fitchburg – Disorderly Conduct, Disturbing the Peace
Lasunia Bell, nineteen-years-old of Mattson Ave – Disorderly Conduct, Disturbing the Peace
Emerson Rivas, twenty-three-years-old of S Ludlow St – Trespass, Disorderly Conduct, Interfering with a Police Officer
Roberto Retana, twenty-four-years-old of Clinton –Trespass, Disorderly Conduct, Disturbing the Peace, Failure to Disperse during Riot
Richard Cummings, forty-four-years-old of Bishop Ave – Disorderly Conduct, Disturbing the Peace
Sarah Drapeau, twenty-years-old of Norwood St – Disorderly Conduct, Disturbing the Peace
Olyvia Crum, twenty-three-years-old of Norwood St – Disorderly Conduct, Disturbing the Peace
Jay Verchin, twenty-three-years-old of Main St – Disorderly Conduct, Disturbing the Peace
Antoine Hernandez, twenty-two-years-old of Dorchester – Disorderly Conduct, Receiving Stolen Property
Antonio Barrera, nineteen-years-old of Oxford – Disorderly Conduct, Disturbing the Peace
Lyndsay Demanbey, twenty-three-years-old of Norwood St – Disorderly Conduct, Disturbing the Peace
Veronica Pasquantonio – twenty-eight-years-old of Westport – Disorderly Conduct, Disturbing the Peace
Javier Amarat – twenty-four-years-old of May St – Disorderly Conduct, Disturbing the Peace
Max Marcotte – twenty-four-years-old of Loudon St – Disorderly Conduct, Disturbing the Peace
Christopher Euga – twenty-eight-years-old of Westport – Disorderly Conduct, Disturbing the Peace
NewsTalk New England 