7 arrested during monument protests at Jackson Square

NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune ^ | 9/24/16 | Wilborn P. Nobles III, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune

[BBell]

The juxtaposition of drumbeats and chants of "No justice, no peace" filled the air on Saturday afternoon (Sept. 24) as hundreds marched toward Jackson Square in an act of protest against the four New Orleans monuments honoring Civil War era figures. For more photos from the protest, click here.

Take 'Em Down NOLA arrived at Jackson Square at 2:17 p.m., where a horse-mounted New Orleans Police patrol blocked access to the Andrew Jackson monument. At one point, protesters could be heard chanting, "We can't get no satisfaction until you take down Andrew Jackson," and some threw liquid-filled balloons at the NOPD command vehicle and spattered EMS Deputy Chief Ken Bouvier of EMS.

New Orleans Police Chief Michael Harrison said seven protesters were arrested during the event. One man named Chuck Perkins was escorted away by NOPD in handcuffs from Jackson Square. Take 'Em Down organizer Michael "Quess" Moore said Perkins marched alongside them in opposition to the monuments.

Harrison said police received information about threats regarding the event, leading the police to create a security plan to manage at least four different groups.

"We did have a couple of incidents that we were able to arrest people for without incident or no injuries to police," he said.

Harrison said there were no injuries to citizens during the protest. Although most of the arrests were for disturbing the peace, Harrison said they made one arrest for aggravated assault involving a man who was allegedly carrying a box cutter. He nonetheless stressed that "at the end of the day, everybody's voices were heard," and "everybody accomplished their goal" with the cooperation of the police.

Earlier, Moore and Take 'Em Down organizer Angela Kinlaw worked with others to begin the march from Congo Square around 1 p.m.

"We're gonna teach them how to

[Charles Martel]

This is a battle of images and public relations. People need to buy some flower bouquets and place them before the statue of Andrew Jackson. This is what the lefties would do. It is a simple thing to do and would catch on. The worst thing that can happen is to have a bunch of people yelling at each other.

[Lisbon1940]

Andrew Jackson was a Democrat. Take him down.