Columbia Police Chief Geoff Jones issued the following statement regarding demonstrations in Columbia:
"We are committed to supporting peaceful protests while ensuring the public’s safety. As demonstrations continue to take place in our community, officers will ensure the safety of our residents while supporting demonstrators’ constitutional rights.
We are aware of the incidents that took place yesterday and plan to position officers in locations throughout the downtown area to help prevent any similar incidents. For the safety of both demonstrators and motorists, we are requesting individuals not block the intersection of the roads.
We value our community and our neighbors and will continue to work together to maintain safety and security for all."