Curfew in effect for Leon County

Photo courtesy Leon County website

Tallahassee has endured its fair share of violence during recent protests and tragic killings in Leon County. After much consideration Leon County commissions have implemented a mandatory curfew that took effect Wednesday.

It goes from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m.  and it will last until Tuesday morning September 8. The curfew comes after a shooting of four individuals on Old Bainbridge Road Monday night. During protest on Saturday, a counter-protester pulled a gun and waved it at people in the crowd.

Also, three people were shot last week on Joe Louis Street, and a fatal shooting of a 26-year old man took place on Ox Bow Circle.

The authorities think that this will be the best decision to decrease violence and protect citizens throughout the community.

Antony Johnson, a former police officer, is sorry to see violence continue to increase in the capital city.

“I think we as a community are being punished for the mistakes that the local authorities did wrong during the protest earlier this year and last weekend. The city of Tallahassee and local city officials gave in too much to the people that protested earlier this year. They did not set precedents and control the situations. TPD basically let some protest take over our city streets. They allowed them to block traffic and just do as they pleased. I support peaceful protest but at the same time you have to do it right. Now as a citizen I have to abide by a curfew.

 “TPD and city officials have to be the authority or else Tallahassee will be like the other cities with riots and destruction to property,” he added.

Most members of the Tallahassee community do not understand the purpose of another “curfew” and don’t think much change will happen with the new guidelines in  place.

“I believe that the curfew should not be enforced. It is really pointless because it abridges upon the right to peacefully assemble because people are being unjustly killed. We are afforded that right under the Constitution that governs our country,” said Sarah Mason, a law student at Florida State University.

As the mandatory curfew begins, some community members understand why the curfew was implemented and are at ease that city officials are working to ensure safety.

“I feel that the curfew is warranted because there has been a rise in gun violence, the community is hypersensitive, and being reckless. It may not solve all of the issues but at least the city officials are trying to do something,” Kelley Morton said.