COLUMBUS – Mayor Andrew Ginther has extended the citywide curfew indefinitely.
It will be in effect nightly from 10:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m., according to an executive order signed Monday.
.@MayorGinther signed an executive order implementing a curfew on the City of Columbus from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.
This order will remain in effect until it rescinded by the Mayor. pic.twitter.com/bPTddsvwCb
— City of Columbus (@ColumbusGov) June 1, 2020
In the order, Ginther cites the possibility that this weekend may see another round of destructive protests such as those that caused tens of thousands of dollars worth of damage to the Statehouse and surrounding businesses since Thursday.
He has declared a state of emergency and the order states that violation of the curfew is punishable by a $1,000 fine or jail time.
People gathered at the Ohio Statehouse Monday, marking a fifth consecutive day of protests in downtown Columbus.
The event was peaceful following a weekend of violent protests across the nation after the death of George Floyd, according to WBNS 10-TV.
Columbus City Council on Monday was preparing to approve a resolution declaring racism a public health crisis.
The Franklin County Commissioners passed a similar measure last month.
Cleveland’s decision to continue its curfew through Tuesday created confusion Monday morning with downtown freeway exit ramps and streets blocked to commuters.
Volunteers had spent Sunday cleaning up the damage in Columbus and Cleveland after destructive protests prompted Gov. Mike DeWine to call in the Ohio National Guard.
CAPA and the Greater Columbus Arts Council have launched #ArtUnitesCbus, bringing in Columbus-based visual artists to paint murals on plywood installed over broken windows at the Ohio Theatre on E. State Street and the Arts Council office, 182 E. Long Street, damaged during protests Thursday night.
In Cincinnati, the mayor says a nighttime curfew will continue Monday.
More than 100 people were arrested Sunday night there during the protests.
Protests also erupted over the weekend in Toledo, Akron, Dayton and smaller cities.
The damage across the state was still being tallied