Curfew ends, as Ducey thanks peaceful protesters, law enforcement officers

The curfew is over.

In announcing on Twitter late Monday morning that he would not extend the 8 p.m.-to-5 a.m. statewide curfew, Gov. Doug Ducey thanked peaceful protesters and law enforcement officer alike.

“Arizona has avoided much of the violence we’ve seen in other states and large metro areas,” Ducey wrote in a series of tweets around 11 a.m.

Peaceful protests have continued daily since the beginning of the curfew, with thousands of people in Phoenix and downtown Scottsdale speaking out on Sunday against institutionalized racism and police brutality.

In Maricopa, several protests have been held, including a candlelight vigil on Friday night and a march on Saturday. All have been peaceful.

“I’m also thankful to all Arizonans for their patience during this time,” Ducey tweeted. “Our state and nation are facing multiple challenges, and I’m very appreciative for how the citizens and leaders of our state are conducting themselves during this historic moment.”

The curfew went into effect at 8 p.m. Sunday, May 31 as part of a Declaration of Emergency after protests in many U.S. cities had turned violent, with arson and looting.

A day before the curfew, peaceful protests over the death of George Floyd in the custody of Minneapolis police became violent. In New York, Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., Chicago, Philadelphia, police clashed with rioters. Businesses were vandalized and looted, and buildings set afire.

In Phoenix, stores at the Scottsdale Fashion Square were vandalized and looted.

The governor has said the curfew was instituted at the request of local leaders and in coordination with state and local law enforcement.

The expiration of the curfew does not mean all is normal, however.

“With the curfew expiring, @Arizona_DPS will remain vigilant, working with local law enforcement leaders to ensure they have the tools necessary to keep our streets safe and protect the rights of all residents to make their voices heard,” Ducey tweeted.

“For the past 8 days, we’ve seen Arizonans exercise their Constitutional Rights in a peaceful manner. With this approach, Arizona can continue to be a good example of how First Amendment rights and public safety will be prioritized.”