At least three groups of demonstrators announced plans to assemble Monday in the Coachella Valley to denounce police brutality in the wake of the death of George Floyd, whose police custody death in Minneapolis on Memorial Day has sparked civil unrest nationwide.
According to Palm Springs police, protesters began assembling downtown around 10 a.m. at South Palm Canyon Drive and East Tahquitz Canyon Way. Sgt. Mike Casavan said that no barricades were initially set up as the protest was expected to be peaceful, although the department warned on social media that officers would be ready to respond in the event of any violence.
“As a department, our main priority is protecting life and property. We are prepared to respond to both peaceful protests and any protests that may become violent or destructive,” the department said in a Facebook post.
In Palm Desert, protesters were expected to gather at 5 p.m. near California Pizza Kitchen on El Paseo.
“We are in no way, shape, or form promoting violence,” the unverified Instagram post from an account called coachellavalleyactivists reads.
And in Indio, a vigil is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. at Miles Avenue Park, 82540 Miles Ave.