Date/Time: Saturday, July 9th, 2016 at 7:00PM
Location: S. DuPont Highway at Water Street (Capital Green Entrance), Dover, DE
Officer Releasing Information: M/Cpl. Mark Hoffman, Public Information Officer
Narrative:
On Saturday, July 9th at approximately 7:00PM, the Dover Police Department was made aware of an organized march/protest in support of the Black Lives Matter movement. The group of approximately 40-60 people gathered on Water Street before walking north towards Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. After circling the intersection, the group made its way back toward Water Street, and eventually walked into the southbound lanes of S. DuPont Highway, blocking traffic in those lanes. Dover Police officers responded to the nearest intersection at Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, to shut down the roadway to ensure motorists and demonstrators were not at risk of a traffic accident. Shortly after, the demonstrators proceeded to block the northbound lanes at the same intersection, causing additional officers to shut down the Public Safety Blvd. intersection. This stretch of roadway was closed by police for approximately 5-10 minutes as the crowd dissipated on their own. The demonstrators cleared the area a short time later with no arrests being made by Dover Police officials.