Little Rock’s new citywide 8 p.m. curfew could end as early as Friday, June 5, Mayor Frank Scott Jr. announced today.
On Wednesday, June 3, Scott held a press conference alongside Chief Keith Humphrey of the Little Rock Police Department to discuss the curfew and ongoing protests.
The curfew was put in place after protests in honor of George Floyd and the fight against police brutality erupted in Little Rock on the night of May 30. Since then, peaceful protestors, as well as “outside forces,” have led events each day and night. On Monday night, Scott activated a 10 p.m. curfew, but after credible intel on possible threats on the lives of local, state and governmental officials as well as intentional destructive behavior, he moved the curfew up two hours.
“When the mayor puts a curfew in place, there’s a reason for that,” Humphrey said. “If you are abiding by the law, we appreciate that. However, if you are not abiding by the law, and you’re going past curfew and completing acts of destruction, there is a possibility you will be arrested.”
While Humphrey noted a majority of the protestors have abided by Scott’s curfew, there have been outside forces intervening, reportedly ANTIFA – a political protest movement group deemed terroristic by President Donald Trump. Scott reported that this intel of ANTIFA presence came from U.S. Attorney Cody Highland for the Eastern District of the state.
There were 79 arrests made in Arkansas last night, all native Arkansans. Of those, 14 were made by the Little Rock Police Department. When asked why members of ANTIFA have not been arrested, Humphrey noted that they are “so well organized,” they are able to escape law enforcement.
“Just because they weren’t arrested doesn’t mean that they weren’t present,” Humphrey said.
As of tonight, the curfew will remain at 8 p.m., with exemptions for the workforce.
READ MORE: State Officials Outline Law Enforcement Response to Latest Protests