Curfew lifted early for City of Sumter

A citywide curfew imposed Wednesday has been lifted.

Since the Memorial Day death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, protests, many peaceful and others turning to narratives of vandalism, looting and police force against instigators as well as peaceful protesters and journalists, have been swelling across the world.

Floyd, a black man, died after a white police officer knelt on his neck for 8 minutes and 46 seconds, as captured on video by bystanders. He could be heard pleading for air in videos that circulated on social media, leading to an outcry against his treatment and police brutality against black Americans.

The curfew was imposed in response to what city government and public safety leaders say is a threat by people from outside the “area and state who have engaged in or who threaten or appear ready to instigate or engage in unlawful or dangerous activity.”

Businesses were forced to close at 6 p.m., residents to stay home except in medical and law enforcement work and care-getting situations.

Protests were held peacefully each afternoon Saturday through Tuesday in front of the police department, but a separate group of people have been getting into confrontations with police at those protests and at other locations in Sumter, including a gas station on Broad Street.

Nine people were arrested, at least eight of whom live in Sumter, based on the Tuesday night interactions and Wednesday curfew, according to law enforcement officials.

“The immediate threats and dangers which necessitated the curfew have been avoided at present,” Mayor Joe McElveen said. “Our citizens have worked will with law enforcement to ensure the safety of our community, and we thank them for that.”

The mayor did caution that “should any threat return, additional steps may be required in the future.”

The mayor has the authority to impose an emergency curfew in matters of extreme public safety. Council then has to vote by a two-thirds majority within 24 hours to continue the curfew, which it did Thursday 4-1.

Officials said on Thursday they hoped to rescind the curfew before its original end date of Monday morning.

In the same regard, an emergency city council meeting was called for 4:30 p.m. Friday to address the status of the curfew. In this type of state of emergency declared by the mayor's authority, special-called meetings are not subject to open meetings laws that require at least a 24-hour notice to the public and media.

Council and the mayor unanimously voted to remove the curfew when they met Friday afternoon.