Police reopen Summit Avenue outside governor's mansion

Updated: 11:06 a.m. | Posted: 8:51 a.m.

St. Paul Police asked protesters to clear an encampment outside the governor's residence Monday after protesters had been occupying the sidewalk for 12 days since the fatal shooting of Philando Castile.

At first, police told protesters to return after 12 hours, during which time the city would clean up the street. But instead, protesters helped bag their own belongings and took it to a nearby church in order to stay.

Police opened up Summit Avenue to traffic, while protesters continued demonstrating on the sidewalk just outside Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton's residence.

"This could've been done a long time ago," St. Paul Police Chief Todd Axtell said. "But we used a lot of restraint and we're very respectful about allowing enough time and we believe that 12 days was enough time to keep this street shut down and it was time."

Axtell said about 40 officers stood by during the cleanup. Police didn't make any arrests.

Axtell said it's illegal to have an encampment on public property, but protesters are free to demonstrate. He didn't say what his plan was if protesters returned to spend the night.

"We never make a decision now," Axtell said. "We always take a very careful approach on how we're going to approach each situation because they're all different."

Several signs, banners and posters protesting police use of force against black men were still hung outside the governor's mansion. Protester held up signs, chanted and played music. Cars drove past the demonstration, some drivers honking as protesters cheered.

Curtis Evant, a lead organizer of the demonstration, said protesters cleared away an electric generator, coolers and medical supplies. But he said despite lack of sustenance, they're staying and intend to abide by the law.

"We mind the ordinance, we don't have any permanent structures," Evant said. "The things we have here we can take out of here, obviously, because we were able to get it out of here before they took it again and destroyed it again."

About a week ago, police cleared out the encampment and briefly opened Summit Avenue before closing it again.

The demonstration continued despite that first attempt to clear it. Evant was negotiating with Axtell Monday to make sure things stay peaceful as the protests continue.

"We're not going nowhere, we're like ants in a colony," Evant said. "If you crush, it we're going to rebuild it."