St. Petersburg mayor Rick Kriseman discusses Florida’s re-opening and recent violent events at protests during press conference, live tweets his speech

In a press conference from St. Petersburg today, Mayor Rick Kriseman addressed Florida’s re-opening of bars and restaurants to full capacity, as well as recent increased tension between protestors and counter-protestors.

During the roughly twenty-minute press conference, Mayor Kriseman noted that St. Petersburg is “a progressive city” that “despite the rhetoric,” has not had “mobs or riots.” He goes on to address recent increased tension at protests due to the recent developments in the Breonna Taylor case, as well as the near presidential election. Watch the full press conference below as aired on WFLA 8:

St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman is expected to discuss the COVID-19 pandemic and the impact Gov. Ron DeSantis recent order has had on local ordinances. bit.ly/3cIAL0k

Posted by WFLA News Channel 8 on Tuesday, September 29, 2020

During the press conference, the Mayor’s Twitter account was live-tweeting paraphrased quotes from the press conference, some of which are included below.

St. Pete has not had the kinds of violence and vandalism we’ve seen elsewhere. Despite the rhetoric, we haven’t had mobs or riots, and we have our entire community to thank for that. We have our police to thank for that. This is a safe city, and we are going to keep it that way.

— Rick Kriseman (@Kriseman) September 29, 2020

There is clearly an effort throughout the country to fan the flames and stoke fears, to paint a picture of lawlessness in American cities. That’s not going to work here.

— Rick Kriseman (@Kriseman) September 29, 2020

You are not advancing your cause by brandishing a knife or a firearm, or by giving someone the finger, crashing someone’s dinner, or cursing at them and calling them names.

— Rick Kriseman (@Kriseman) September 29, 2020

Calling all police officers murderers and pigs and things worse than that because of the conduct of a few bad cops in cities in other states is not acceptable here. Those cops are not OUR cops.

— Rick Kriseman (@Kriseman) September 29, 2020

Labeling all protestors a part of a mob, anarchists, or enemies of this country because of the conduct of a few bad protestors is also not acceptable here.

— Rick Kriseman (@Kriseman) September 29, 2020

Chief of Police, Anthony Holloway, addressed questions following the Mayor’s speech, and mentioned more specific details would soon be coming regarding the recent protest where he says a knife and gun were brandished, and they are “looking for” the individuals involved.

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