Why Cole Sprouse Was Arrested

American actor Cole Sprouse, who stars as Jughead in the CW’s popular series Riverdale, was arrested while protesting in Santa Monica on Sunday; as police officers rounded up demonstrators for mass rioting, destruction, and looting.

The 27-year-old was part of a group of a few dozen protesters who were gathered on Broadway in downtown Santa Monica, holding signs decrying the death of George Floyd and chanting “I can’t breathe.”

Earlier that day, hundreds of people gathered for a peaceful protest about a mile away, marching and holding moments of silence to honour black people that have lost their lives to police brutality.

In the course of protesting and looting, fires broke out and completely torched two businesses. Police officers began to close in and cut off intersections, thinning and dispersing crowds.

Eventually, the police lines cornered and arrested the demonstrators; including Sprouse, who wore a black bandana as a mask. The actor was one of the first in the group that police grabbed and put in zip-tie handcuffs.

Sprouse shared his experience on Instagram on Monday afternoon; confirming that police had told protesters they would arrest them if they did not leave.

“I was detained when standing in solidarity, as were many of the final vanguards within Santa Monica,” Sprouse said.

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“We were given the option to leave and were informed that if we did not retreat, we would be arrested. When many did turn to leave, we found another line of police officers blocking our route; at which point, they started zip tying us.”

Throughout his post, Sprouse reiterated that he did not want the narrative to be about him; underscoring that “peace, riots, looting, are an absolutely legitimate form of protest.”

Check out the post below:

  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 A group of peaceful protesters, myself included, were arrested yesterday in Santa Monica. So before the voracious horde of media sensationalism decides to somehow turn it about me, there’s a clear need to speak about the circumstances: Black Lives Matter. Peace, riots, looting, are an absolutely legitimate form of protest. the media is by nature only going to show the most sensational, which only proves a long standing racist agenda. I was detained when standing in solidarity, as were many of the final vanguard within Santa Monica. We were given the option to leave, and were informed that if we did not retreat, we would be arrested. When many did turn to leave, we found another line of police officers blocking our route, at which point, they started zip tying us. It needs to be stated that as a straight white man, and a public figure, the institutional consequences of my detainment are nothing in comparison to others within the movement. This is ABSOLUTELY not a narrative about me, and I hope the media doesn’t make it such. This is, and will be, a time about standing ground near others as a situation escalates, providing educated support, demonstrating and doing the right thing. This is precisely the time to contemplate what it means to stand as an ally. I hope others in my position do as well. I noticed that there are cameras that roll within the police cruisers during the entirety of our detainment, hope it helps. I’ll speak no more on the subject, as I’m (1) not well versed enough to do so, (2) not the subject of the movement, and (3) uninterested in drawing attention away from the leaders of the #BLM movement. I will be, again, posting the link in my story to a comprehensive document for donations and support.
 
A post shared by  Cole Sprouse (@colesprouse) on Jun 1, 2020 at 1:14pm PDT
 

After police cleared the group, they sat at least 20 people on the curb and in police vans before police took them to surrounding detention centers.

The police held Sprouse and other demonstrators for about 90 minutes; charged with a misdemeanour count of violating curfew, and then freed. Like other protesters, he expressed confusion about the circumstances in which they detained.

In total, authorities arrested more than 400 people for a spate of alleged crimes; like looting, assault with a deadly weapon, burglary, assault on a police officer, and violating curfew; according to Santa Monica Police Chief Cynthia Renaud.

A spokesperson for the police department said the majority of the arrests were “citations”; thus, many demonstrators were not booked or fingerprinted.

Sprouse has been outspoken about a number of social and political issues. Yesterday, he shared an expansive list of resources on his Instagram story for people who want to protest and donate in support of #BlackLivesMatter.

The Riverdale star has always been vocal on the social media platform about his views on social and political issues. Sprouse has also been critical of Donald Trump.

Other celebrities and members of Hollywood spent their weekends protesting the death of George Floyd and in support of the #BlackLivesMatter movement.

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Ariana Grande posted video footage from a Los Angeles protest on Saturday afternoon; as well as a photo of herself wearing a mask and holding a “Black Lives Matter” placard on her Instagram story.

Michael B. Jordan was also at a Los Angeles protest. Halsey tweeted on Sunday, “I don’t know how to articulate the horrors of today,” on the second day of protests.