Exclusive: Two pastors bridge the gap between protesters and Des Moines police
Two pastors communicated between Des Moines police and protesters to bring a peaceful end to the crowd.
Shorly before 9 p.m. May 31, protesters stood outside the Des Moines Police Station expressing their anger over the police-involved death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
Two local Latino church pastors, Ian Rojas and David Sixtos, stepped in to breach the gap.
"The holy spirit took over us," Sixtos said.
They asked what protesters wanted which was only for officers to kneel with them in recognition to how Floyd died.
"It is a risk if they do it in front of a group of people that are mad," Sixtos said.
"Emotions were running high. People are amped up," said Des Moines Police Lt. Ryan Doty.
Doty saw Rojas and Sixtos from his 2nd floor office window and ran downstairs.
"I need to know who he is and what he just said that people are listening to him," Doty said.
Sixtos and Rojas relayed the demonstrator's request. Doty liked the idea, but had to get it cleared by Chief Dana Wingert.
"They started yelling, 'Hey, that's why we don't like you. That's why you don't have respect,'" Sixtos said.
Wingert gave his approval and the officers went down on one knee.
"It was so emotional that you don't eve know what to think, you know?" Rojas said.
"It was just such a precious moment when we were in between," Sixtos said.
When Wingert showed up, he was as emotional as he was impressed.
"Us joining them is a symbolic way to kind of recognize what had happened," Wingert said. "That's the least we can do."
Then demonstrators started to leave.
"Not only did the crowd disperse, but I had many people within the crowd come up and shake my hand and tell me, 'thank you,'" Doty said.
'Everybody here is fighting for justice and we love our community," Sixtos said.