Salem Officials Balance Protests With Coronavirus Concerns

SALEM, MA — Two city councilors raised concerns with Mayor Kim Driscoll about protests held in Salem Friday and Saturday in light of the ongoing coronavirus crisis and state rules limiting gatherings of more than 10 people.

While at-large councilor Domingo Dominguez said he applauded the right of protester to demonstrate the Memorial Day death of George Floyd while in custody of Minneapolis police, he asked Driscoll in an email last week about steps the city was taking to protect people from COVID-19. He also raised concerns about protests in other U.S. cities that had ended in street violence.

"The people of Salem have a right, however, to have clear prior knowledge on whether there will be a protest, when it will be, what, if any city change would occur for this (i.e. street closures or use of a park or Common) and what the plan is to keep residents and protesters safe and protected," Dominguez said in a Wednesday email to Driscoll. "Many locations, including in Massachusetts, have had their peaceful protests erupt into various forms of violence...We need to be able to protect Salem residents and visitors, and our historic buildings."

According to the Salem News, which first reported this story, Ward 7 City Councilor Steve Dibble raised similar concerns. A spokesman for the city told the newspaper that the city had been in contact with demonstration leaders before Friday's protest at the Salem police station and Saturday's rally on Salem Common.

"Now is probably not the right time to have a gathering where more than 500 people have expressed interest in this rally on Friday afternoon, never mind the two on Saturday," Dibble told the newspaper.

While Salem protesters previously joined protesters in other U.S. cities to condemn the killing of George Floyd on Memorial Day while he was handcuffed by Minneapolis police, Friday's post called for the firing of a Salem police captain who posted a message on the department's Twitter account that city officials called "wildly inappropriate."

Capt. Kate Stephens, a 24-year veteran of the department, has been suspended and on paid administrative leave since posting the message on Monday.

The message, which has since been deleted, targeted Boston Mayor Marty Walsh and Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker. It read "@martywalsh so you issued a permit for 10 of thousands of people to protest but I can't go to a restaurant? You are ridiculous. You and Too Tall Deval are killing this state."

Both Driscoll and Chief Mary Butler have condemned the message.

"The posting of personnel commentary and opinions on the Department's social media account is not only against our internal policies, it undermines the public trust and confidence that we, as a Police Department, have worked so hard to achieve here in Salem. It is even more concerning that these comments come from someone in a leadership position within the Department," Salem Police Chief Mary Butler said in a statement. "These comments are uncalled for at any time, but they are particularly egregious at this time when the public is questioning the fairness, equity and legitimacy of the police and their actions."