Fargo begins cleanup following Saturday night destruction

Just hours after riots developed in downtown Fargo, now community members are responding by cleaning up the city. Several businesses were damaged during the riot, which came just hours after a peaceful protest across the metro area, which began at Island Park just after 10 a.m. Saturday morning. The protest made stops at the Fargo Police Department headquarters, where Fargo Mayor Tim Mahoney, Moorhead Mayor Johnathan Judd, Fargo Police Chief David Todd and other officers engaged peacefully with those gathered.

“At midday, we were quite pleased,” Governor Doug Burgum said. “Heading into the evening, we had some optimism that things were going to die down.”

But quickly those peaceful moments turned tense as evening fell on Fargo.

"Last night's actions do not define our community and its people," Fargo Mayor Dr. Tim Mahoney said in a press conference this morning. "We do not support anarchy; we do not support vandalism.”

The events of last night, which continued late into the evening and overnight, caused the cities of Fargo and West Fargo to enact a state of emergency, while also enlisting assistance from other outside agencies and the state.

By 10:43 p.m. last night, Burgum had issued a state of emergency for both Fargo and West Fargo, along with Cass County. The state’s declaration activated the North Dakota National Guard to help local authorities respond to the unlawful activity, along with the risk to people and property.

“The law enforcement in North Dakota act with professionalism and restraint,” he said.

Burgum said anyone who wants to have a conversation just has to ask, and it will be granted.

"Let's have a dialogue and no more violence," Burgum said. “It’s not just myself, Mayor Mahoney, Chief Todd and others in law enforcement made the same offer.”

Todd said two Fargo Police Department squad cars were damaged as a result of the riot. Additionally, four officers were injured during the event, which drew law enforcement from across the state of North Dakota.

“We are one team, we are one community,” West Fargo interim Police Chief Jerry Boyer said.

As a result of Saturday night’s events, 18 people were arrested, Todd said. Of those 18, 10 were taken to jail for inciting a riot.

By 8 a.m. Sunday, business owners and community members had gathered in downtown Fargo to begin the cleanup process. Within hours, most of the graffiti had been cleaned from buildings; glass, which had come from windows that had been broken, was cleaned up; and the process of restoring downtown Fargo was fully underway, with the help of a large group of Fargo citizens.

“Citizens are down cleaning up the glass because they care about the community,” Burgum said. “People who really care about Fargo, West Fargo and Cass County showed their strength.”