City of Roanoke responds to Saturday protests

The City of Roanoke released a statement Saturday in response to

in various areas of the jurisdiction.

City Manager Bob Cowell offered his support of law-abiding protesters, saying, "I commend those that peacefully gathered today to exercise their right to assemble and vocalize their understandable anger with the events that occurred in Minneapolis. I also thank the Roanoke Police Department - VA for their work to ensure the safety of those assembled."

Cowell said the city will remain behind those who exercise their rights lawfully.

"They're here showing up wanting to go in the buildings and smash windows and do those kinds of things, to do damage to property and there's no need for that, and so we want to make sure where we can get, where we can go to protect that, we do it," said Sherman Lea, Roanoke mayor.

The full statement can be found on the City of Roanoke's

.