TORRINGTON – A protest in Torrington went off without a hitch.
Dozens of people protesting police brutality, racial inequality and the murder of George Floyd made their way down Main Street, then East A Street, around the Goshen County Courthouse, Torrington City Hall and back down Main Street, there were no threats of violence and no hint of rioting.
Unfounded rumors on social media claiming busloads of protestors were coming to Goshen County prompted a handful of people to show up with guns – but in the end, it was a peaceful protest. The group, which stretched out for more than a block as it moved between locations, was mostly met with pleasantries – though there was one man who repeatedly shouted ‘Are you going to riot?’ at the group.
Mayor Randy Adams, who met the group at City Hall, said they handled the situation perfectly, and their cause should not be ridiculed.
“I just wanted to make it clear where I stood,” he said. “We should value what they’re doing, rather than devalue it.
“That’s one thing we have to overcome in this county. They have a fundamental right. There’s no right to be destructive and no right to be violent, but there is certainly a right to protest.”
During his weekly press conference, Governor Mark Gordon also praised the poise and determination of people who felt compelled to take action against what many perceive as an injustice.
“I want to express Wyoming’s sense of sadness at the killing of George Floyd,” Gordon said. “We watched in horror as that man died. The demonstrations that have occurred around the nation and here in Wyoming are an outpouring of the outrage that we all felt.
“I want to express how extremely proud I am of Wyomingites all around the state. They felt it was proper and appropriate, and they felt they could demonstrate peacefully, and they did so.”
During the march in Torrington, interim Torrington Police Mike Matthews, as well as several other TPD officers marched alongside the protestors. Scenes like that have become common in many locations, and Gordon said it reflects well on the state’s law enforcers.
“I’d like to thank law enforcement officers who have not had to make arrests, who have handled themselves professionally and with respect for the demonstrators,” Gordon said.
While race issues don’t often come to light in Wyoming, Gordon said the Cowboy State still has work to do.
“True change is not something that can be implemented just by government,” he said. “It needs to be heard by the people, and brought forth by the people. All of the power in our form of government comes from the people.
“If Wyoming wants to live up to its ideals as the Equality State, we have to do better.”
Adams, a retired social studies and civics teacher, applauded the event’s organizers – Torrington High School senior Elyssa Cummings and recent graduate Bailey Walker – for having the courage to stand up for what they believe in.
“It was very cool (that it was organized by youth), and a lot of my friends were marching,” Adams said. “Don’t complain – participate.”
