The Independent employs journalists from around the world to bring you truly independent journalism. To support us, consider a contribution.
A vehicle carrying the Iowa governor hit a Black Lives Matter protester in Des Moines when the protester attempted to block the car’s path.
The group of protesters had gathered Tuesday on a driveway to a public event in Steamboat Rock and Ackley to prevent the car carrying Governor Kim Reynolds from leaving when the vehicle ran over one of the organizers. The Des Moines Record reported.
Jaylen Cavil, an organizer for Des Moines Black Lives Matter said Register: “I was standing right in front of the car and I stood there. I thought, ‘I’m going to stop here. Surely the governor’s driver isn’t going to hit me with his car.
Download the new Independent Premium app
Share the full story, not just the headlines
“This is the governor, my governor, who is supposed to be representing me. I’m sure his car is not going to hit me on purpose. ‘ I was wrong.”
The activist was not injured during the incident, but alleged that the driver of the vehicle intentionally hit him.
Protesters waited outside Governor Reynolds’ public events to urge her to immediately sign an executive order restoring the voting rights of people with felony convictions who have completed their sentences.
The governor confirmed that he will sign the order sometime before the November elections, but not immediately.
Iowa is the last state where criminals are prohibited from voting even after serving their sentences, unless they successfully petition the governor for restoration Reuters reported.
Mr. Cavil said Register that he expected the governor to roll down the vehicle window and get involved with the protesters.
A spokesman for the Iowa State Patrol confirmed that the incident took place to Register, but suggested that Mr. Cavil “intentionally stood in front of the moving vehicle.”
“The Iowa State Patrol is aware of an incident that occurred near Ackley, Iowa, which involved a protester and a vehicle carrying the governor,” Sergeant Alex Dinkla, spokesman for the Iowa State Patrol, said in a statement. .
Preliminary police reports at the scene suggest that the protester intentionally stopped in front of the moving vehicle. The protester appeared not to be injured, did not request medical treatment and continued with his activities. The Iowa State Patrol is investigating the circumstances. “
Governor Reynolds’ spokesman Pat Garrett declined to comment when contacted by the newspaper. Sergeant Dinkla did not respond to inquiries from the media about who was driving the governor’s vehicle.
Two other activists, Matthew Bruce and Grace Merritt, endorsed the account of Cavil’s events on the way out.
“We just want answers. So we are following her. We want you to know that we are not going to remain silent, ”said Mr. Cavil.
.
