Protesters gathered in downtown Washington Monday night after learning Governor Kim Reynolds and Lt. Governor Adam Gregg were staying in town. The Governor and Lt. Governor met with staff from Café Dodici to discuss how COVID-19 and economic recovery efforts have impacted small businesses earlier that evening, and were spending the night in the Dodici Night Suites downtown.

Protesters laid down silently on the pavement of Washington Street outside of the restaurant at about 11:30 p.m. Law enforcement officers from the Washington Police Department, Washington County Sheriff’s Office, DCI, and Iowa State Patrol were on scene. Over a megaphone, protesters were told they were in violation of code and told to disperse. As the protesters got up and walked away, various chants, including Black Lives Matter, could be heard. The crowd left by 11:45 p.m.