Watsonville police report no major incidents after rumors of violent protest
WATSONVILLE, Calif. (KION)
UPDATE 6/5/2020 2 p.m. Watsonville police said there were no major incidents in the city Thursday night.
Businesses in Watsonville closed and boarded up windows in response to a rumor of a "barbaric protest."
PREVIOUS STORY: A rumor of a “barbaric protest” in Watsonville Thursday evening has prompted businesses to close and board up windows.
“It's for the safety of our employees and everyone here rather than take a risk. Hopefully there is no risk. Hopefully nothing happens,” Yogurtland Watsonville owner Kevin Dueck said.
Watsonville Police Department said it is unclear who is behind the rumored protest, but out of an abundance of caution have sent a notification to businesses near the Overlook Shopping Center off of Main St. It's unknown if there is any validity to the flyer circulating around social media, according to police.
“We’ll have enough resources and if it gets out of hand, hopefully it doesn’t, we’ll have outside agencies that can come in to help us out,” WPD Capt. Jorge Zamora said.
Businesses in the shopping center told KION, they're not willing to take the risk of being broken into, especially during the coronavirus pandemic.
“I’m worried that it could be true, and someone could come around and cause some vandalism,” GNC Watsonville owner Refugio Moran said.
By late afternoon Thursday, all businesses in the shopping center were closed.
In the midst of the worry, many in the Watsonville community said they won't let the true meaning of the protests be lost and will do what they can to prevent any violence.
“As a community, we’re so tight knit that if something happens around here we’re on it, and we’re here to protect our businesses and protect our town,” a Watsonville resident named Isaac said.
Watsonville Police monitored commercial areas of the city Thursday. As of early Thursday evening no protest, peaceful or otherwise, was taking place at the Overlook Shopping Center.
There is a Watsonville peaceful demonstration planned for Saturday at 1 p.m. at the Watsonville Plaza.
