As dissension grows across Central New York and the country, law enforcement in Syracuse said clear communication with protest organizers is key in keeping events peaceful.
Two weeks ago, thousands of demonstrators gathered in Syracuse’s Forman Park under the banner of “Hands Off!” with minimal incident. The next mass nationwide rally is scheduled to take place Saturday, April 19, with local efforts converging in Baldwinsville under the rally call of National Action Day.
Sgt. Thomas Blake, a public information officer with the Syracuse Police Department, said his team avoided rioting in the past protest by preserving the law.
“First and foremost, we respect people’s right to assemble,” Blake said. “We all sign up for this to protect people’s rights… a lot of us are military members. So, we are fully on board with that – as long as they’re doing it in a respectful manner.”
Prior to Syracuse's rally, Blake said his department worked with protest organizers ahead of time to understand their plans and clarify expectations, including having organizers obtain permits to assemble a large crowd.
“We had what I think is a good working relationship with that particular organizer,” he said of the recent Hands Off! protest. “They told us what they were planning to do and… we took them at their word. So, it worked out. We didn’t have any issues.”
Still, he said the department drew a clear line when demonstrators posed safety risks – especially when crowds began blocking traffic.
“Imagine if you have a loved one in the back of an ambulance they can’t get through because there’s 500 people in the middle of an intersection chanting,” Blake said. “While we respect the right of certain individuals to protest, we also have to be accountable for the needs and livelihood of everybody else.”
As public frustration grows and movements pick up steam, some protesters have called for more direct tactics. At the Syracuse protest earlier this month, demonstrator Bo Drozda suggested the movement may shift away from formally permitted gatherings.
“I think we're going to have to start going into some more pointed actions like they did in the civil rights movement,” Drozda said. “Where it’s not just big protests in a park where it's permitted. So, we’ll have to move forward and see what's the best way to tackle this from all fronts.”
Sentiments like that have police closely monitoring public comments online with possible connections to the planned protests.
“Sometimes we have what we call ‘keyboard warriors,’” he said. “They put this information out, but they’re not necessarily saying it to us. If somebody brings it to our attention, we’ll try to find out who the tip of the spear is and reach out to them. You’re allowed to protest — we’ll even assist you.”
Blake emphasized that the department’s goal is not to suppress public dissent but to maintain safety.
“We don’t have a problem with protests," he said, "we welcome it. If you’re upset about something, that’s part of being American."
Still, he urged protestors to be aware of their surroundings and avoid groups that may not share the same peaceful intent.
“Most people attending these events are good people frustrated with the current political climate,” Blake said. “But there’s always a few people that ruin it for everybody.”
He advised attendees to stay away from activity they know is illegal and notify police quickly.
“If you see that kind of stuff, remove yourself from that situation,” he said. “And if you think it needs to be brought to our attention, bring it to our attention.”
With additional protests expected throughout the region, Blake said the department will continue to evaluate each event individually. Their approach, he said, comes down to mutual respect and a shared goal of public safety.
“We’re not there to ruin anybody’s time or try to prevent somebody from peacefully protesting. We’re all humans and we want to go home to our wife and kids,” he said.
The next nationwide rally is Saturday, April 19. Local rally goers plan to meet in Baldwinsville at noon near the Four Corner's intersection of NY-48 and NY-370.
