COLUMBUS — Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine said Saturday he is calling in the Ohio National Guard “to protect the citizens of the state of Ohio.”
The announcement was made at the beginning of a news conference scheduled in response to rioting in Ohio’s capital city on Friday night and well into Saturday.
“I understand that people are angry. I understand that people have pent up rage,” said Mr. DeWine, who said he made the call out of the “need to value and protect one another.”
Columbus Mayor Andrew J. Ginther said a curfew is being instituted in Columbus immediately, from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. daily until further notice.
Anyone caught out on the street during those times can be arrested, he said.
“This curfew is not intended to stifle peaceful protest,” Mr. Ginther said, adding that increased enforcement actions are “laser-focused to those who have come to our city to do us harm.”
Columbus Police Chief Thomas Quinlan said his department has no doubt spent “hundreds of thousands of dollars” trying to keep peace in Columbus since the death of George Floyd, the African-American man who died in Minneapolis earlier this week after a white police officer pressed his knee down on Mr. Floyd’s neck for nine minutes.
Mr. Floyd, who was already subdued and in handcuffs, repeatedly complained he could not breathe. Three other officers looked on. They did nothing to stop the actions of the other officer, Derek Chauvin.
Chief Quinlan said the uprising in Columbus has “transformed from lawful, peaceful protests into criminal vandalism, looting, and damaging landmarks,” such as the historic Ohio Theatre in downtown Columbus — a 1928 movie palace saved from demolition in 1969 and restored for future generations.
“Enough,” the police chief said at the beginning and end of his remarks.
Ohio Adjutant General, Maj. Gen. John C. Harris, Jr., who presides over the Ohio National Guard, said a specialized unit called the National Guard Response Force will be among those seeking to restore order.
The Ohio National Guard is America’s fourth largest national guard, with 17,000 men and women, he said.
“They understand the anger. They understand the rage,” Major General Harris said. “But let there be no doubt. We will accomplish our mission.”
More than 100 public and private properties were damaged on Friday night and into Saturday morning, according to Mayor Ginther.
At least 10 properties were looted. Five police officers were injured from bricks and rocks thrown at them. Multiple police and fire vehicles were damaged, he said.
Columbus is “now at a point where we can no longer tell the difference between who is protesting for change and an end to racism and who has chaos and destruction in mind,” Mayor Ginther said.
And though the mayor lauded Columbus police for showing incredible restraint given the circumstances, the Columbus Dispatch reported that three public officials — Columbus City Council President Shannon Hardin, Franklin County Commissioner Kevin Boyce, and U.S. Rep. Joyce Beatty (D., Ohio) — were part of a group of spectators hit with pepper spray deployed by officers near Broad and High streets about noon Saturday.
Mr. Boyce reported hours later that his hair, skin, and eyes were still burning. He told the newspaper the confrontation began shortly after he saw an officer shove a woman in the face near that intersection.
“We were there simply trying to encourage peaceful protest and make sure that those folks knew they were being heard,” Mr. Boyce told The Dispatch. “I do believe that the scenario that I witnessed, they were out of line. The police officer who hit the young lady was out of line.”
Mr. Hardin, who was quoted in the article as saying he fell to his knees upon being sprayed, confirmed the incident on Twitter. He said in a tweet that he, Ms. Beatty, and Mr. Boyce are all right but “want to encourage folks, both police and protesters, to stay calm.”
In his opening remarks, Gov. DeWine also said this:
“Sadly, there's a relatively small number of violent individuals who pose a specific threat and a real threat to our law enforcement officers and to the safety of the people of Columbus and Franklin County,” he said. “The vast majority of protesters want simply to be heard. They want to focus attention on the tragic death of George Floyd, and they want to focus attention on other injustices. We always, always welcome such voices.
“But,” Mr. DeWine added, “the voices calling for justice, the voices calling for change are sadly being drowned out by a smaller group of violent individuals. These violent individuals threaten the safety of our citizens.”
The governor went on to say that “acts of violence cannot and will not be tolerated” and that he was activating the Ohio National Guard “to drive out hate and violence and to help instill order.
“This is about the safety of our community. These voices should not be covered over. They should be allowed to be heard. We do this today so that love and kindness and compassion and peace can triumph over hate and violence,” Mr. DeWine said.
During a question-and-answer session held with journalists off camera following the announcement, Mr. DeWine said the level of violence had become so extreme in Columbus he had no choice left but to call in the National Guard.
“This is not a decision that any governor wants to make, but I didn't hesitate to make the decision,” the governor said.
Moments later, Chief Quinlan described an unknown number of non-local agitators as “anarchists.”
First Published May 30, 2020, 9:15 p.m.
