Leon County government has once again imposed a curfew for all its residents.
The curfew goes into effect Wednesday, and will last through next Tuesday, Sept. 8. In a news release, the county says the move is “Due in part to recent violence during protests and demonstrations” in the area.
Over the weekend, an altercation at a Black Lives Matter protest outside the Historic Capitol building led to punches being thrown, and a counter-protester pulling a gun on protesters.
The County says Leon Sheriff Walt McNeil requested the countywide curfew “in an effort to prevent further violence and unrest.”
Per the curfew’s guidelines, residents are told to stay home from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m., with some exceptions: People are allowed to go to and from work, seek healthcare or emergency veterinary care, or walk a pet on their premises.
County Commission chair Bryan Desloge issued a statement about the curfew, saying: "While we respect the right of individuals to peacefully protest, our first obligation remains ensuring the safety of our community,"
A curfew was issued by the County earlier this year, in April, with the goal to keep people indoors out of concern for COVID-19 spread.
