By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
As many protests against racial injustice and police brutality have turned violent across the nation, the protest in Bowling Green Sunday resulted in no arrests, and no property damage.
Mayor Mike Aspacher credited Bowling Green Police Division, protest organizers and citizens for the results.
“I’m not going to lie to you. It was a stressful day,” Aspacher said during a City Council meeting Monday evening.
Like others across the country, he had watched the images of protests turning violent in cities.
“That was the last thing we wanted to see in Bowling Green,” he said.
Police Chief Tony Hetrick and city officials met with the protest organizers on Saturday afternoon.
“We made it clear to them that we respected their right to protest,” and understood the reasons they wanted to rally, Aspacher said. “We thought the community could benefit from hearing their story.”
Aspacher said Hetrick did a great job working with the organizers.
“Our police chief is incredible,” he said.
And the officers followed suit – conducting themselves appropriately during the protest, Aspacher said.
“I’m incredibly impressed,” he said. “The professionalism, the dedication was really something.”
Council member Sandy Rowland also praised the involvement of young community members who set up water stations for protesters, plus handed out pizza, popsicles, cookies and candy from local businesses.
“I was really proud of the way they handled themselves,” Rowland said of the volunteers who greeted the protesters with kindness.
Aspacher thanked the students from the martial arts academy across from the police station for also handing out water and food.
“This was another example of people doing the right thing,” he said.
Council member Bill Herald thanked the citizens, protesters and police.
“The message was made, in an environment where we could concentrate on the message,” he said. “That’s the character we wish to see in our community as well as the nation.”
Aspacher also talked about the parade held for Bowling Green High School graduates on Sunday afternoon.
“We had an active weekend in Bowling Green,” he said. “What a terrific event” after a school year that was cut short and had many missed opportunities for seniors due to the pandemic.
Council member Greg Robinette said he had the chance to see the entire parade route since his son was one of the graduates.
“I knew the community would come out, but not in the strength they did,” Robinette said.
The city also had an apartment fire this weekend, on North Main Street, where no one was injured and firefighters quickly extinguished the blaze.
“Our city safety services distinguished themselves this weekend,” Aspacher said.
