Peaceful Demonstration in Ashland will call for defunding of the Ashland Police Department

Peaceful Demonstration in Ashland will call for defunding of the Ashland Police Department

That supports defunding the ashland police department.

Newswatch 12's cameron derby is in ashland with the details.

"tomorrow night, the plaza here in ashland once again will be host to a demonstration, this time in solidarity with the black lives matter movement and the homeless community here in ashland.

The hope is to start a conversation at an ashland city council study session on monday over defunding the ashland police department."

"we feel that a lot of money is being wasted by funding police that is just harassing these people downtown rather than really adressing the problem and dealing with the solution in a health way, or dealing with the problem in a healthy way, excuse me."

According to the city of ashland, since 2007, the ashland police department has seen steady increases in funding.

In fact, a two and half million dollar rise in operations.

Ashland's police chief and the protesters, not too far apart.

"so, i don't disagree with a lot of the people that say we should defund the police because what they really are really saying is that we need to have more of an emphasis on mental health and substance abuse treatment and adressing the homeless issues.

So, i will actually disagree that we need to get rid of police officers.

You are always going to need a police officer to respond to a violent crime."

The goal of this protest is to be like the others in to be like the this protest is the goal of to a violent crime."

Officer to respond need a police are always going to police officers.

You are always going to need a police officer to respond to a violent crime."

The goal of this protest is to be like the others in ashland since the death of george floyd, 100 percent peaceful.

"yeah we have no intention to break windows or burn anything.

There is no intention to do that.

We will be having a peaceful protest, holding signs, and participating in our constitutional rights to assembly and speech."

"chief o'mera telling me the ashland police department plans to have no presence here at the plaza for the demonstration tomorrow night.

He says he will have extra officers on hand just in case they need the extra support but