Savannah Mayor Edna Jackson says she’s confident future protests in the city will remain peaceful. She’s also urging city leaders to wait before commenting on recent shootings.

Jackson briefed members of City Council Friday following another series of shootings and a protest organized by Savannah State University students that police say turned “unruly.”

The demonstration came in response to two recent grand jury decisions not to indict white police officers in the deaths of unarmed black men in Ferguson, Missouri and New York City. During the protest, several people laid down in the street and blocked traffic. Police made no arrests but issued a statement that they might respond differently to future incidents.

Jackson said she had a “very productive” meeting Friday with police and leaders and students from Savannah State. She said students agreed to notify police in advance of any future demonstrations and to keep those protests peaceful.

Alderwoman Estella Shabazz attended Thursday’s protest and at the briefing Friday commended police for their handling of the incident. She also praised the marchers for responding quickly to police instructions to get out of the street.

Shabazz said she supports students wanting to organize protests. “It’s a right, you have a right to do so, peacefully,” she said, “and our police department will work with anybody who wants to do this.”

Jackson said her office also received calls following the most recent string of shootings in Savannah. A teenage boy shot Thursday later died of his wounds, and three others were injured in a separate shooting Thursday night.

Jackson told Council members to be wary of spreading misinformation about the shootings.

She also said her office has received two pieces of “hate mail” regarding the city’s handling of recent violence.

Shabazz and Alderman Tony Thomas questioned City Manager Stephanie Cutter about police efforts to crack down on the gun violence. They both stressed police should be targeting neighborhoods where crime and gang activity have been concentrated.

Thomas also suggested a localized version of this summer’s Operation Thunder, a state initiative to cut down on speeding and drunk driving with increased patrols and checkpoints. “We should be roadblocking these hotspot areas,” he said. “And I promise you, these sweeps, pulling people out, warrants and everything else, would start to clean up some of these areas.”

Alderwoman Mary Ellen Sprague said efforts to cut down on violence need to go beyond police and involve the community. She brought up Project Ceasefire, the crime reduction initiative the city recently approved.

Cutter said she expects that program will move forward within 30 days.

Tags: Savannah, Edna Jackson, Savannah City Council, scmpd, shootings, gun violence, Savannah State University, protests, ferguson protests, blacklivesmatter