MIAMI (AP) - The chief prosecutor in Miami-Dade County said Tuesday that curfew violation charges will not be pursued against most people involved in recent protests over police brutality against African Americans.
Katherine Fernandez Rundle, the Miami-Dade state attorney, said in a statement that she saw little value in prosecuting such violations. The charge is a misdemeanor that typically would not involve any jail sentence.
“During the past couple of weeks, people have taken to the streets to advocate for change in mostly peaceful and non-violent protests,” Fernandez Rundle said. “This is their right and I join them in their calls for reforms consistent with our commitment to smart, equal, and fair justice.”
There have been numerous protests throughout Miami-Dade since the death of George Floyd, who was black, at the hands of police in Minneapolis. Although there were some instances of looting and damage to property, including police vehicles, most of the protests have been peaceful.
Fernandez Rundle said curfew violations would only be pursued if there were aggravating circumstances beyond simply being outside after a curfew deadline. There have been over 100 such arrests, especially in the early days of the protests.
Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez on Monday lifted the curfew that had been in place for 10 days. The county’s beaches are also scheduled to reopen on Wednesday with restrictions aimed at preventing the spread of the coronavirus.
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