A protester was arrested Thursday at a demonstration in Valdosta in response to racism and police brutality in America for what authorities say is an obscene protest sign.
Lowndes County Sheriff Ashley Paulk told The Valdosta Times that Sydney Caitlin Smith, 31, of Valdosta was arrested about 6 p.m.
The arrest was made because, according to Paulk, the protester was carrying a sign with obscene language.
The sign referenced Paulk and President Donald Trump.
Paulk said the arrest was made by a sheriff’s deputy. Paulk indicated the protester was charged under a state law that bans displaying obscenity where people 14 and younger can see it.
No additional clarification was provided, the publication reported, but WCTV reported the woman was charged with disorderly conduct. She was taken to the Lowndes County Jail with a misdemeanor charge.
WCTV reported that the news of the arrest came after video taken on Wednesday showed Paulk scuffle with protesters. In the video, which was circulated on social media, Paulk is seen confronting a man with a sign that contains profanity -- different from Smith's sign Thursday -- taking the sign and grabbing a female protester just as she tried to take the sign back.
Paulk said he was at the protest all day Wednesday and left for lunch. When he came back, he said he was made aware of the sign with profanity.
"I was made aware of it by the public," he told WCTV. "I got several calls of 'We don't want to look at this.' I went back up there. I approached the young man who had the sign in his hand."
The man eventually gave Paulk the sign.
Protests across the country were sparked in response to the death of George Floyd, an African American who died after a white police officer knelt on his neck for more than eight minutes, according to cellphone video taken during the incident. Floyd repeatedly said he could not breathe, pleading for the officer to get off him.
The officer, Derek Chauvin, and three other Minneapolis officers who were with him are facing charges. Chauvin is charged with second-degree murder, among other charges. The other three are facing aiding and abetting murder charges.
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