DOVER, Del.- A curfew and state of emergency placed on Delaware's second-largest city following recent protests over the death of George Floyd will not be lifted anytime soon, according to the mayor of Dover.
Mayor Robin Christiansen said he and Dover Police Chief Tom Johnson are regularly briefed about the situation involving recent protests prompted by the death of Floyd, who was black and died after a white officer kneeled on his neck during an arrest, and they do not believe it would be a smart idea to lift the 9 p.m. curfew.
"Do I want to have a curfew? No," he said. "Do we need a curfew at this point in time? Yes, to protect all of our citizens---that's why it's citywide."
The state of emergency and curfew were instituted by Christiansen's order on May 31 after a day of peaceful protesting in the city that gave way to looting at some stores at the Dover Mall and along U.S. Route 13. That evening also saw a crowd involved in a standoff with Delaware State Police after the group moved from the mall to the agency's headquarters along the highway.
Christiansen said the restrictions under the curfew are less restrictive than those imposed under Gov. John Carney's ongoing state of emergency over the coronavirus pandemic.
Although some businesses have been closing early because of the curfew, Christiansen said that is unnecessary.
"No one is restricted from their movement," he said. "Liquor stores are open. Businesses can use their discretion. People who are going about their business are not going to be bothered by the curfew."