A number of elected officials made their way to Market Street Sunday morning to examine the damage done during Saturday night’s distructive protests.
Gov. John Carney was among them.
Carney says Wilmington Police did an "amazing" job handling a difficult situation and believes most protestors were focused on the good. He calls Saturday night’s turn of events disheartening, but adds people out Sunday helping clean-up offered reason for optimism.
"We need to build on this positive energy to address some of the problems that give rise to this rage and acknowledge it, and embrace those members of our community as one community,” said Carney.
Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester says she was raised in Wilmington and is heartbroken by what she saw Saturday night.
"I’ve heard from all kinds of people who feel the collective pain," said Blunt Rochester, who at times held back tears. "We need to heal. We need to heal and we need to get real about what the challenges are. And we need to work on them together.”
That sentiment was echoed by Wilmington City Councilwoman Michelle Harlee, who represents the downtown area hit hardest by the protest.
“I’m just a little sad that it had to come to this," said Harlee. "But it’s also a wake up call that we can no longer ignore what’s been happening for generations. And so I hope we can come around the table together and work on some solutions.”
Harlee adds the city is on "high-alert" and prepared to deploy the policing necessary to avoid another flare-up tonight or the coming days.
State Sen. Elizabeth "Tizzy" Lockman’s district also includes the downtown area. She understands some people may still want to be heard, but hopes they will take a different approach than Saturday night.
“Seek a peaceful response to what we are going through," said Lockman. "If that means staying home, great. If you can come out and observe the moment peacefully, I think we always want people to feel free to do that, and they don’t feel free when things heat up as they did.”
Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester was emotional discussing the difficulty of the moment as people seek ways to express their frustration.
“I don’t have all the answers, but I know we’re tired," said Blunt Rochester. "And I know we’ve got to come together. We’ve got to vote. We’ve got to exert our power. And we’ve got to love each other.”
Gov. Carney says the state and New Castle County supported Wilmington Police Saturday and will continue to support them as needed. He says the city has not request the National Guard be deployed.
"I don't see that. There hasn't been a request from the city," said Carney. "Obviously, that's part of the conversation. It would never be an active role. It would be more to secure ceratin public buildings, and things like that."
