KIRKLAND, Wash. — The city of Kirkland declared an emergency Monday, asking shop and restaurant owners to board up windows, after receiving reports that the city could be targeted for damage to businesses.
“We are receiving reports that Kirkland is a possible target for looting and destruction,“ said City Manager Kurt Triplett.
By late afternoon, most businesses were boarded up and dozens of rifle-toting volunteers patrolled the area.
“We are not here to hurt anybody,“ said Hamed Shirzad, who owns a jewelry store.
“We have water for the protesters and we support the Black Lives Matter movement. We just don’t want anyone looting in the city of Kirkland.”
Police cruisers lined the arterial’s leading into the city, and no criminal reports of damage or looting were ever made, as of midnight Monday.
Dozens of peaceful protesters who marched in the street said the guns and heavy security distracted from their legitimate message of a righteous demand for justice.
“It’s a little disheartening at times seeing how people are scared about what we might do,” said Tasha Jeffrey, who carried a sign saying "‘We want justice.”’
“We’re out here in a peaceful manner exercising your constitutional rights,“ added Pauline Price.
Extended family and a group of friends who said they supported the protest guarded the entrance of Casa Ricardo’s restaurant after hearing the city’s warnings.
Brian McCormick, a pastor at Kirkland church, took a moment from volunteering to board up businesses, to stop and hug the leaders of the peaceful protest.
“I’ve seen people from every race, every political background, all collaborating here," he said.
“This has been peaceful and powerful, and I think that’s a message that should be heard.”
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