KALAMAZOO, MI — Hundreds of people filled the streets of downtown Kalamazoo Saturday evening, continuing a day full of peaceful protest stemming from the recent death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
Protesters gathered in Kalamazoo, and in communities across the state and nation, on Saturday, May 30, to demand justice for George Floyd and an end to police brutality against people of color.
A group gathered at noon in front of the Kalamazoo County Courthouse, then marched to Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety headquarters, where protesters knelt and a prayer was said for Floyd. That group then returned downtown before dispersing.
Related: Protesters take to downtown Kalamazoo streets in response to George Floyd’s death
A separate protest, held later Saturday evening, drew a much larger crowd that, at times, challenged boundaries set by police monitoring it.
Shortly before 6 p.m., as protesters again gathered outside the county courthouse, sidewalks were packed and people flooded into the surrounding streets. Multiple people on bullhorns shouted chants in support of black lives matter such as “No justice, no peace," “Third-degree is not enough” and “Say his name — George Floyd."
Demonstrators carried signs with messages including “silence is the loudest way to be complicit," “stop killing us," “rest in power” and others. On other signs, protesters had written out the names of people of color killed by police.
Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety officers attempted to regulate where protesters could march, but more than once demonstrators calmly walked past police. Officers clad in riot gear turned out when the protesters reached the end of the Kalamazoo Mall at West Michigan Avenue, but ultimately pulled back and were not seen again.
The large group marched down West Michigan Avenue, ultimately circling back to the Kalamazoo Mall. Protesters converged at Bronson Park, sharing positive messages and listening to speeches from passionate activists and protest organizers. A local artist also took the stage to perform a freestyle rap.
Floyd, a 46-year-old black man, died after being handcuffed by Minneapolis police investigating an alleged forgery the night of Monday, May 25. Video shared widely on social media shows white Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin kneeling on Floyd’s neck for several minutes. In the footage, Floyd can be heard repeatedly saying he cannot breathe as civilians urge Chauvin to get off him and check his pulse.
Floyd’s death set off a series of protests in cities across the country.
Chauvin and three other officers who were on the scene have since been fired. Chauvin on Friday was arrested and charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter related to Floyd’s death, though protesters in Kalamazoo Friday said that is not enough.
Protests continued elsewhere, throughout the country and the state, on Saturday night.
Also on MLive:
‘No justice, no peace:' Thousands gather in Grand Rapids to protest police brutality
Hundreds protesting police brutality gather in Ann Arbor to 'make a change for our country’
Bay City man detained by police in Detroit says peaceful Friday protest quickly grew violent
Gov. Whitmer wants designated areas for peaceful protesting as unrest continues nationwide
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