Hundreds gather for protest at Palm Desert Civic Center
Hundreds of protesters gathered at the Palm Desert Civic Center for a protest against police brutality.
The protest remains peaceful but is not subsiding, despite the 6 p.m. countywide curfew issued to guard against civil unrest. The protest wrapped up shortly before 8 p.m.
The organizers of a planned march on El Paseo in Palm Desert have announced a location change through their social media account. They cite the concerns about "the potential of rioting and looting" as the primary reason and say they want a peaceful protest.
News Channel 3's Jake Ingrassia spoke with one of the organizers of tonight's protest. He said he was surprised by how many people came out for the protests. He said believes the protest will remain peaceful throughout the night.
Now, organizers are hoping people will gather near Palm Desert City Hall and Palm Desert Civic Center Park.
They ask the Palm Desert Police Department to "take a knee" in honor of Black Lives Matter and the protest against police brutality.
The protest was originally expected to begin at 5:00 p.m., but due to the county enacting a 6:00 p.m curfew, it has been pushed up to start at 4:00.
The expectation that a protest would occur on El Paseo spurred a flurry of preparations Monday morning. Dozens of businesses boarded their windows. The City closed the street to traffic.
News Channel 3 has only been able to communicate with the organizers through social media. As we learn more we will update this article and our on air reports.
Watch News Channel 3 at noon for continuing coverage and live reports from the scene.
