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Winston-Salem Police Warn That Protesters Blocking Roads Could Be Arrested

One of several protests in Winston-Salem on Sunday, May 31, 2020. PAUL GARBER/WFDD

Winston-Salem police have put protesters on notice that they could be arrested for blocking city streets and highways.

This comes following demonstrations that have interrupted traffic flow in locations around the city, including Interstate 40 and U.S. 52.

According to a news release, the department is asking for “compliance with all applicable laws during any future rallies (and) protests.”

Officials say the demonstrations are straining the cost for staffing and resources, as well as having an impact on other emergency services.

The department says it has actively listened to comments and concerns from community groups and residents, and says it's committed to making positive changes.

Neal Charnoff joined 88.5 WFDD as Morning Edition host in 2014. Raised in the Catskill region of upstate New York, he graduated from Sarah Lawrence College in 1983. Armed with a liberal arts degree, Neal was fully equipped to be a waiter. So he prolonged his arrested development bouncing around New York and L.A. until discovering that people enjoyed listening to his voice on the radio. After a few years doing overnight shifts at a local rock station, Neal spent most of his career at Vermont Public Radio. He began as host of a nightly jazz program, where he was proud to interview many of his idols, including Dave Brubeck and Sonny Rollins. Neal graduated to the news department, where he was the local host for NPR's All Things Considered for 14 years. In addition to news interviews and features, he originated and produced the Weekly Conversation On The Arts, as well as VPR Backstage, which profiled theater productions around the state. He contributed several stories to NPR, including coverage of a devastating ice storm. Neal now sees the value of that liberal arts degree, and approaches life with the knowledge that all subjects and all art forms are connected to each other. Neal and his wife Judy are enjoying exploring North Carolina and points south. They would both be happy to never experience a Vermont winter again.

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