STATEMENT ON COMMISSIONER BOYCE’S INVOLVEMENT IN SATURDAY PROTEST

For the third day in a row, people of Central Ohio gathered downtown to protest the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis and the unequal treatment of people of color by police forces in many instances around the nation.  Commissioner Boyce attended the event with several other elected officials, including Congresswoman Joyce Beatty and Columbus City Council President Shannon Hardin.  While supporting the crowd’s right to peacefully protest, the group was sprayed by police with pepper spray.  None of the elected officials was seriously hurt.

All of the Franklin County Commissioners support the protesters in the peaceful expression of their pain, and sympathize with their cause.  We call for restraint from both protesters and police, and insist that all sides take care to avoid any injury or destruction of property.

We will continue to work and fight against the racism and inequity that exist throughout the nation.