Columbus NAACP president arrested during protest

Failing to heed the warnings of Columbus police not to block the street, the local president of the NAACP branch and a former candidate for city council were taken into custody Saturday while protesting on Veterans Parkway at 10^th Street.

Tonza Thomas, president of the Columbus branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, and Marquese Averett were handcuffed and arrested on two charges each around 7:19 p.m. after they blocked Veterans Parkway for three to five minutes, said Police Maj. J.D. Hawk of the Bureau of Patrol Services. They were charged with one count each of unlawful assembly and obstruction of a roadway.

Both were taken to the Muscogee County Jail where they were still held at 8:30 p.m. If they don’t post bond, a Columbus Recorder’s Court hearing is set for 9 a.m. Monday.

Hawk said the unlawful assembly charged stems from the group having more than 16 protesters in the gathering without a permit. Under 16 people could have gathered without a permit.

“They had been warned in the beginning of the demonstration,” Hawk said. “If they blocked the roadway, they would be arrested.”

Hawk said the pair intentionally blocked the roadway to obstruct traffic. They were the only protesters arrested.

“Everything went fine,” the major said. “Everybody else cooperated after they were arrested.”

The group gathered at the Columbus Government Center at 6 p.m. to protest the recent police shootings of black men in Louisiana and Minnesota and the deadly sniper attack on police officers in Dallas. They also called for unity to bring an end to violence in communities.

The NAACP is one of the organizers of a gun buyback program on Sunday.

This story was originally published July 9, 2016 at 8:29 PM with the headline "Columbus NAACP president arrested during protest."