Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle discusses George Floyd protests

Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle discusses George Floyd-related protests

And i'm dan shaffer.

Waay 31's sydney martin is live in downtown huntsville today.

She asked the mayor about the protest and his reaction to what happened in minnesota.

Ad-lib what is going on..

And mayor tommy battle told me he welcomes peaceful protest - and said after what happened in minnesota he understands the hurt in the community.

Tommy battle, mayor of huntsville "there's a lot of hurt people out there right now.

We saw something you should never see.

We saw a man die."

Mayor tommy battle said monday what happened in minnesota shook him to the core.

And said he stands with the protesters who came together peacefully on saturday..

Tommy battle, mayor of huntsville "they did what we are supposed to do as a society as a country.

They came and showed their displeasure with what they saw."

I asked mayor battle how they make sure what happened in minneapolis with the arrest of george floyd doesn't happen here in huntsville.

Tommy battle, mayor of huntsville " we train our police officers.

We train them in deescalation.

We train them in implicit bias training.

We train them in mental health response.

" battle explained- he believes the protesters in huntsville took the necessary steps - to voice their concern but also stay safe with coronavirus still being a major factor.

Tommy battle, mayor of huntsville "they were aware of covid-19 out there, they were aware that maybe there wasn't as much social distancing in that.

They were aware that they needed to do something for their fellow man."

Battle said race relations is something his team actively work on and is something he doesn't expect to go away anytime soon.

Tommy battle, mayor of huntsville "race relations is a process that you go through time and time again.

It's a conversation that never ends.

It's a conversation that should never end because we are trying to make sure as we are inclusive are we equal?

Do we take care of one portion of the population better than the other or do we take care of the population as we should."

This protest here in downtown huntsville is expected to go until 6 o'clock tonight.

The mayor told us he could not be here today- because of a previous commitment.

Live in huntsville