Teens Try to Organize Riot on Social Media

Law enforcement and nervous business owners descended on the courthouse square on Sunday after two local 15 yearolds created a post on social media trying to start a “riot” in downtown La Grange Sunday night.

Lots of cars drove by the square carrying curious onlookers. A handful of pedestrians strolled around looking for an event that never happened.

After nearly a week of protests and riots in big cities nationwide surrounding the death of an unarmed black man, George Floyd, at the hands of police in Minneapolis, the two La Grange teens posted this on Snapcat Sunday – “Send it Around ... Riot for the people ... La Grange square ... Tonight 8 p.m.”

The La Grange police department learned of the message and La Grange Police Chief David Gilbreath said he called one of the boys’ mothers and had a conversation with her and the boy and it was decided that the teen would not be coming to the square, Gilbreath said.

Still Gilbreath and several members of his force stayed on the square to make sure everything stayed peaceful.

“I was worried,” Gilbreath said.

Some county officers and officials were also present.

Some business owners who had also heard of the plan, came downtown and some stayed in front of or inside their buildings to keep a close eye on things.