Below is a joint statement from Police Chief Ken Ferrante and Mayor Ravi S. Bhalla:
Throughout the past several days, residents from all across America have demonstrated their first amendment rights to peacefully protest the brutal and unjust murder of George Floyd. We fully support the right for our residents to peacefully demonstrate in the name of justice and racial equality.
As residents may know, a demonstration is being organized for Friday in Hoboken. We want to assure everyone that the Hoboken Police Department has spent the past several days preparing for the event. The Hoboken Police Department and Office of Emergency Management are fully prepared to ensure the safety of all residents, demonstrators, and businesses. While we ask residents and our businesses to remain vigilant, please rest assured that the HPD is taking every proactive measure possible to protect our City.
To this end, we continue to actively speak with the organizers of Friday’s event in order to protect demonstrators, residents and businesses alike. We are also confident that the vast majority of individuals participating in the event will peacefully demonstrate, but still pledge to take every precaution necessary to safeguard our City.
Finally, for anyone who chooses to participate in Friday’s demonstration, we ask you please wear a face mask at all times and social distance whenever possible.
Thank you to residents for your understanding.
