Akron Black Lives Matter leader arrested by police during protest at grocery store
Updated 10:41 AM; Today 10:41 AM

Akron police arrested the leader of a Black Lives Matter protest of a grocery store.

By Adam Ferrise, cleveland.com


AKRON, Ohio — Akron police on Saturday arrested an organizer of a Black Lives Matter protest of a grocery store.

Dirshawn Mansfield, 29, was released from the Summit County Jail about an hour after his arrest. He is charged with three misdemeanors— criminal trespass, obstructing official business and disorderly conduct.

He is scheduled for arraignment on Monday in Akron Municipal Court.

Mansfield said in a video he posted on Facebook prior to his arrest that he organized the protest at Marc’s grocery store on East Waterloo Road near Glenmount Avenue after store managers refused to allow an employee to wear a face mask that said “Black Lives Matter” on it.

Neither Mansfield nor Marc’s immediately responded to messages seeking comment.

A group of about 20 protesters gathered in front of the grocery store about noon, according to Akron police spokesman Lt. Michael Miller.

Miller said officers told the protestors that they could not protest on private property and directed the group to several places they could protest. Miller said officers waited for some time for the protestors to move to a different area but they didn’t.

The officers went to arrest Mansfield, who ran several blocks before officers caught up to him, Miller said. After the arrest, the protestors left. No one else was arrested, Miller said.

Protestors then went to the Summit County Jail and protested until Mansfield was released, according to the Akron Beacon Journal.