BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — Festivals this weekend across Western New York drew thousands of visitors, including the Juneteenth Parade and Kenmore Days. However, reports of some fights breaking out caused disruptions.
Kenmore Police said the department dealt with multiple disturbances involving large groups of youths and young adults. According to KPD, multiple fights were broken up, dozens of youth were ejected from the park, and five arrests were made. The charges ranged from trespassing to assault to resisting arrest.
Buffalo Police reported "several" fights broke out Saturday following the Juneteenth Parade. Some youth were taken to their parents, and one was arrested for allegedly having a knife.
WATCH: Fights at festivals across Western New York raise concerns
Common Councilmember Zeneta Everhart said she witnessed at least four fights at Martin Luther King Jr. Park.
"Right in front of me was where the stampede started, and there was a woman in a wheelchair, and she had a couple of young kids with her, and she almost got knocked over," Council member Everhart said.
Murray Holman, head of security at Juneteenth, defended police response but said more needs to be done.
"I believe that we did a great job of maintaining that to a low level," Holman said. "They're good kids. They just get wound up. I don't have a solution yet, but I wanna sit at the table with them and then have adults on the other side listening and figuring out the plan."
For the next Juneteenth celebration, Everhart wants to make it mandatory for anyone under 18 to participate in programming about the significance of the day to attend the festival.
"We make it a requirement for their participation and their presence here," Everhart said. "That's it, simple."
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