CIRCLEVILLE, Ohio — A peaceful Black Lives Matter protest took place on Saturday in response to the July 4 mauling of a black semi-truck driver, drawing about a hundred people who gathered throughout downtown Circleville. The event aimed to call for police accountability following the firing of Officer Ryan Speakman, who was involved in the incident but dismissed from the department for reasons unrelated to the mauling.
The protest, which was organized by concerned citizens and activists, saw demonstrators wearing shirts with the slogan “Black Lives Matter” while advocating for justice and transparency in the investigation into the police department. Officer Speakman was terminated from the department, not because of the bite itself, but due to being deemed “too unfit for duty” by Circleville’s Police Chief, who cited issues such as excessive crying, gossiping, and a lack of openness.
The protesters gathered peacefully on blocked off streets with barricades provided by the city to ensure a safe environment and keep traffic at bay. While there was a visible proactive law enforcement presence, with deputies from the Sheriff’s office engaging in discussions with those in attendance, the overall atmosphere remained calm with no signs of confrontation.
The protest drew the attention of onlookers, including members of local churches, who took a neutral stance but offered support by distributing water and prayer to the demonstrators. Multiple law enforcement departments staged at the local fire department, including tactical teams, as a precautionary measure.
A woman, who would only provide her first name as Becky, said that the K9 attack, termination, and internal handling was all an injustice in many ways.
“It’s not even about race to me. It’s about what that officer did was wrong. What the whole department did was wrong to me. Two days later, the case is closed. It was ruled justified. Then suddenly it’s not justified and it should have never been justified,” the woman said in an interview. “I feel the mayor and the chief of police need to be looked at, too. Not just that officer …. It’s just all so wrong on so many levels. I mean, yes, the man should have stopped [the semi]. He shouldn’t have been breaking the law, but we still have rights as citizens and they shouldn’t have released the K9, but they did it anyway.”
Rumors of a crowd of 1,000 or more people did not come to fruition. Instead, approximately a hundred people spread out throughout the downtown area, primarily acting as observers.
The protesters shared their frustrations with local media for the ouster of Chief of Police Shawn Baer, expressing discontent over his handling of the mauling incident and subsequent investigation. Despite their grievances, the demonstration remained orderly, and no incidents of yelling or chants were heard.
“I’m a Circleville native. I’ve lived here all my life and we’ve known for years that the city has some issues,” said Zackary Brooks, who attended wearing a “Black Lives Matter” shirt. “The city needs to come out with the documents regarding the investigation. They need to be released. The chief of police needs to come out and speak for the wrongdoing of the department. The city should be screaming from the rooftops.”
Brooks, who is running unopposed for city council said he is disappointed in the leadership of Baer and wants to see a change in administration at the police department.
“I’m currently running for city council unopposed, so I will take office in January, and if this isn’t handled by January, every week, every day, I will be finding ways to take care of the situation, whether that be changing the police department policy, whether that be firing Chief Baer, which frankly needs to happen at this point because of his absence in the community. People need to be responsible for the actions of our department, and if leaders don’t want to lead, then they need to step aside and let others do the job.”
Cheryl Beverly, another protester who showed up wearing a Black Lives Matter shirt with a group of friends echoed the same.
“I think the whole police department needs to have an investigation. If [Speakman] was still on for 15 days, then the chief police needs to go. The whole police department needs to be investigated.”
A counter-protester, who refused to identify himself, was present with signs containing offensive language directed at the NAACP and referencing a controversial song by Jason Aldean that some have deemed racially insensitive.
“The signs speak what I believe … if the police are behind you, you better pullover or you’re going to get what you’re going to get,” the man said. “The whole thing was messed up, letting the dog loose, that was sketchy, but I’m going to back my city, we aren’t Washington. I’m out here to keep my city from getting burnt up. I’ve been seeing for three or four years, these cities getting burned to the ground. They’re not coming to my town and doing it … to me, the NAACP and Al Sharpton are a hate group. I support Trump, I support the good stuff. Anything good, I support.”
Beverly had something to say about the sign.
“I think the NAACP has to step up in our town. I think in a lot of small towns they do need to step up. I want to ask the question to them, ‘are you guys scared? What are you scared of?’ Because this is the reason why a lot of small towns are getting hit like we’re getting hit, is because our NAACP does not stand up for us. There’s a lot of things that has happened to me. NAACP will not stand up. And, I think they’re scared because behind the scenes, they do a lot of things for the white majority. And I think it’s because they’re scared. There’s something with our black NAACP in our town that is scared to get out. They’re scared to march.”
There is no indication that the NAACP or Reverend Al Sharpton was involved in organizing the protest on Saturday, however, the man at the center of the situation, Jadarrius Rose, 23, Memphis, Tenn., has hired nationally-renowned civil rights lawyer Ben Crump.
In contrast, a black man from Circleville attended the event with a sign expressing his support for law enforcement but condemning bad cops, emphasizing the message of the protest to call for accountability rather than targeting the entire police force.
“I’m not going to let social media dictate my thinking. I can think for myself,” said Eugene Ragland. “I support the blue, but I’m not going to support the bad cops. We have 1% of bad in everything, every occupation; doctors, lawyers, everywhere. I’m not going to let [Speakman] him break the good things we have in this country.”
Throughout the event, a drone hovered overhead, capturing footage of the demonstration. As the day progressed, the heat became a factor, resulting in a member of the news media experiencing heat exhaustion. However, law enforcement and first responders promptly provided assistance.
The Eagles Lodge took precautions by barricading their parking lot with metal fencing and displaying no trespassing signs during the event.
By late afternoon, the crowds began to disperse, concluding the protest without any significant incidents of unrest. The Sheriff thanked more than three dozen agencies who assisted in the efforts to keep the peace.
“I would like to thank all the agencies which assisted with today’s peaceful demonstration in front of the Circleville Police Department. There were multiple agencies who participated, [such as] Pickaway County Sheriff’s Office, Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, Circleville Police Department, Ohio State Highway Patrol, Commercial Point Police Department, South Bloomfield Police Department, Circleville Fire Department, Scioto Township Fire Department, Harrison Township Fire Department, Pickaway Township Fire Department, Saltcreek-Tarlton Fire Department, Clearcreek Fire Department, Pickaway County Prosecutor’s Office, Pickaway County EMA, City of Circleville Law Director’s Office, Box 65, Circleville Chamber of Commerce, Ohio Health Berger, Pickaway County CERT, City of Circleville Service Department, Ohio MARCS, Amateur Radio Emergency Service, CGTV-5 and City of Chillicothe Fire Department.”
