Curfew initiated for City of Sumter amid George Floyd protests

The City of Sumter declared an emergency curfew from 6 p.m. until 6 a.m. that began Wednesday.

The curfew is being enacted "in an effort to ease tensions" associated with ongoing protests, which have been peaceful locally, and to better protect private and public properties and individuals in the City of Sumter, according to city officials.

All businesses are required under this emergency curfew to close each day during these hours. City residents are asked to remain at home during the curfew hours.

"The City of Sumter stands with our nation in solidarity against what we have seen in Minneapolis. We support everyone's First Amendment right to free speech and will protect those exercising their liberties lawfully," Mayor Joe McElveen said. "However, the unlawful acts by criminals who prey on opportunities presented by peaceful protest will not be tolerated."

On May 25, a black man, George Floyd, died in police custody, sparking protests across the nation and internationally. Video captured by bystanders shows a white police officer kneeling on the neck of a handcuffed Floyd for nearly nine minutes as the man pleaded for air.

The officer, Derek Chauvin, was fired May 26 and initially charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. The three other officers involved were also fired but were not immediately charged.

Sumter City Council will meet at 11 a.m. today to pass an ordinance declaring the curfew.

Open meeting laws require notice of special meetings to be posted and sent to media at least 24 hours in advance. While the agenda was sent to The Sumter Item at 4 p.m. Wednesday, well within 24 hours, city officials pointed to a statute that exempts "emergency meetings of public bodies."

Emergency ordinances may address "life, health, safety or the property of the people," but they cannot levy taxes, and they cannot address "franchise or impose or change a service rate."

According to city law, the mayor can impose a curfew during a state of emergency, which the statute says is "public crisis, disaster, rioting, civil disturbance, catastrophe" or other reasons. In that instance, council shall be called into session within 24 hours after a state of emergency.

Two main groups in Sumter have formed amid the protests, one that has been peacefully protesting in front of the Sumter Police Department daily since Saturday and another group that has gone to those protests and gotten into verbal confrontations with police. A separate scene at the Sunoco gas station on Broad Street on Tuesday night escalated but resulted in no arrests.

Organizers of the peaceful protests, a group of six to eight women from Sumter, have said repeatedly they want to separate themselves from rumors of violence, all of which have been unfounded, and confrontation. Earlier this week, they took turns chanting, holding signs and lying on the ground, recreating the position in which Floyd died, in the police department's parking lot.

The full text of the curfew mentioned a threat might come to "convert peaceful protests into civil disturbance and riot within the city." It says the curfew will be in effect through Monday, June 8.

Law enforcement, fire, EMS, active duty military, health care providers and professionals, public works and utility workers and people traveling to and from work or seeking emergency care are exempt from this curfew.

"We know our citizens will abide by this curfew, and closing early will allow our police department to deal with those who violate the laws," McElveen said.

A full copy of the city's emergency curfew has been posted at www.sumtersc.gov/news.