Gov. declares state of emergency as protesters block traffic, paint street

Jul 9, 2020, 7:18 PM | Updated: Dec 30, 2022, 11:25 am

Red paint, which protesters said represented the blood on DA Sim Gill's hands, seen on 500 South from the 20th floor of the Grand America hotel. Photo: Paul Nelson, KSL NewsRadio

BY PAUL NELSON AND BECKY BRUCE

KSLNewsRadio

SALT LAKE CITY — Gov. Gary Herbert declared a state of emergency Thursday night after protests escalated in downtown Salt Lake City and police tried to get protesters to disperse.

Protesters paint the street

The protests began peacefully. Protesters blocked traffic and painted the street and parts of the district attorney’s office building red Thursday night after Salt Lake County DA ruled the shooting of Bernardo Palacios-Carbajal was justified.

Protestors paint 500 South red to protest Sim Gill’s decision, calling the shooting of Bernardo Palacios Carbajal justified. pic.twitter.com/jgr0lvSo4J

— Paul Nelson (@KSLPaul) July 10, 2020

Protesters spread red paint on 500 South, outside the office of Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill on July 9, 2020. Photo: Paul Nelson, KSL NewsRadio

Protesters surround a TV photographer, preventing him from filming them outside the office of Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill on July 9, 2020. Photo: Paul Nelson, KSL NewsRadio

Protesters spread red paint on the street and outside the office of Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill on July 9, 2020. Photo: Paul Nelson, KSL NewsRadio

Protesters spread red paint and put up posters outside the office of Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill on July 9, 2020. Photo: Paul Nelson, KSL NewsRadio

Protesters spread red paint and posted signs outside the office of Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill on July 9, 2020. Photo: Paul Nelson, KSL NewsRadio

Police moved to disperse the crowd after protesters broke windows at the office of Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill on July 9, 2020. Photo: Paul Nelson, KSL NewsRadio

At one point, protesters used their bodies and umbrellas to try to block reporters from filming what they were doing.

Protestors are blocking reporters from filming. Some are using black umbrellas to block cameras, claiming video has been used to find and arrest people. pic.twitter.com/dwBptL04H8

— Paul Nelson (@KSLPaul) July 10, 2020

Protesters gathered on 500 South outside the DA’s office, hours after prosecutor Sim Gill announced he would not charge the officers involved in the police shooting that killed Palacios-Carbajal. It also came shortly after family members of Palacios-Carbajal said they planned to file a civil lawsuit.

Protestors paint 500 South red to protest Sim Gill’s decision, calling the shooting of Bernardo Palacios Carbajal justified. pic.twitter.com/jgr0lvSo4J

— Paul Nelson (@KSLPaul) July 10, 2020

Efforts to disperse the crowds

Salt Lake City Police announced they would “disburse [sic] the group” after some protesters broke windows.

It appears the police are preparing to push the protestors away from 500 South. Protestors have locked arms across the road. pic.twitter.com/BpW36AvgHI

— Paul Nelson (@KSLPaul) July 10, 2020

A couple of protestors smashed some of the windows of the SLCO DA’s office. pic.twitter.com/AYiZLJWDuA

— Paul Nelson (@KSLPaul) July 10, 2020

Shortly after the department sent out a tweet to that effect, reporters witnessed a Utah Department of Public Safety helicopter circling the area. They could hear its loudspeaker announcing “Unlawful assembly. Leave the area.”

The governor’s emergency declaration closes the state capitol and grounds to anyone other than state workers and officials. It also allows the state to assist local Salt Lake City authorities.

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