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A vigil for George Floyd was held in Belfast, Northern Ireland, and thousands gathered to protest his death in New Zealand.

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Protests and demonstrations nationwide have become the norm in the wake of the death of George Floyd, a black man who died after a now-fired police officer kept a knee to his neck for nearly nine minutes. 

Derek Chauvin, the former officer seen on video with his knee on Floyd’s neck, has been arrested and charged with third-degree murder, though Floyd’s family is pushing for first-degree murder charges. Three other officers involved with the incident, however, haven’t been charged, prompting continued calls across the country against police brutality.

Daily protests have frequently been marred by violence and looting, and police have frequently used tear gas, chemical irritants and rubber bullets in efforts to quell protesters — sometimes even when protests remain peaceful. Journalists have also been caught in clashes between protesters and police. 

Tuesday also saw a nationwide movement called “Blackout Tuesday.“ 

Here’s a look at city-by-city protests on Tuesday night: 

Miami: Young, racially diverse crowd marches in historically black neighborhood

An afternoon crowd of 100 grew to about 400 by evening as it weaved past through the city’s historically black neighborhood Overtown and into its gentrified Wynwood arts area with minimal police presence.

The young, racially diverse crowd repeated chants of “black lives matter” and “say his name: George Floyd” as they marched through about five miles of streets surrounded by organizers who halted traffic around them and tailed by a handful of police officers on bicycles. At the insistence of organizers, the group dispersed by 8 p.m., an hour before the city’s curfew began.

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Tuesday’s march was organized by Dream Defenders, a grassroots group of young activists that believes in the abolition of prisons, policing, surveillance and punishment.

Days of protests across the city inspired 18-year-old Miami resident Ashley Pierre. The high school senior said she was tired of sharing social media posts calling for change, “we need to make it change.”

While protesters chanted in support of inmates at the detention center, about a dozen officers stood silently behind police tape between the jail and the Richard E. Gerstein Justice Building.

Not everyone reveled in the tone of non-violence emphasized during Tuesday’s rally. Rene Charles, a 25-year-old native of Little Haiti, sees violence as a simple and effective tool to protect the community against police brutality.

“Bad people who use violence can and will only be stopped by good people who are better at violence,” he said. “This isn’t a game; there are people’s lives at stake.”

The impassioned cries reached 13-year-old Bianca Hanks’ family home in Overtown. When she heard the chants, she grabbed a “Black Lives Matter” poster and ran outside.

“It’s a really great feeling,” the seventh grader said.

– Olivia Hitchcock and Matt Bruce, Palm Beach Post

Madison, Wisconsin: Muralists look to beautify scene

As the sky darkened and a storm rolled toward Madison, protesters still gathered on the lawn of the Capitol building with cases of water and signs. In front of the iconic “Forward” statue, which appeared to have been painted brown after being doused in red paint on Monday night, a woman spoke to the crowd, warning them about being peaceful and not staying out too late.

“After 1 a.m., we can’t help you,” she said. 

Down from the Capitol, more protesters funneled into the center of the city, past boarded up windows and spray paint. But a group of muralists from worked to beautify the otherwise stark scene. Colorful murals, bearing words phrases like “Stronger together” and “Create the world you want to live in,” were being painted over the plywood. 

– Laura Schulte, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel 

Detroit: Police arrest protesters who defy curfew: ‘We can’t afford’ violence

Detroit Police Chief James Craig told reporters he didn’t want to make any arrests on the fifth night of protests across the city in the wake of George Floyd’s death in Minneapolis.

“Our goal is not to arrest,” Craig said. But, he added, “We can’t afford to have what we’ve seen in other places.”

However, after a group of people splintered off from a gathering that began near the downtown Detroit Police Department headquarters and defied a citywide curfew, police enforced the law.

After continuing to ask protesters to remove themselves from the road, Detroit police boxed them in from all sides and began making arrests about an hour after the citywide curfew. Officers used zip ties to detain protesters and put water in the eyes of those hit by pepper spray. They lined up the arrested, while seated, on the sidewalk.

Previous protests began peacefully but quickly turned violent after dark, sparking Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan to implement a curfew for the city from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m., indefinitely.

– Evan Petzold, Angie Jackson, Kristen Jordan Shamus, M.L. Elrick, Branden Hunter, Mark Kurlyandchik and Darcie Moran, Detroit Free Press

Chicago: Protesters take to the streets: ‘I’m tired of seeing our people killed’

As separate marchers began across the city, thousands of young people from

various Chicago neighborhoods marched south from Wrigley Field, chanting “hands up don’t shoot” and “say his name! George Floyd! say her name! Breonna Taylor!”

Volunteers along the way handed out snacks and water amid the 90-degree heat. CPD officers on bikes guided the protest south.

West Siders Angel Griffin, 25, and Tatyiana Mack, 26, say they were there to march peacefully and bring attention to police brutality. “There have been so many personal experiences I’ve had that have never hit the news. I want people to know. I want them to care,” Mack said.

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Over the course of nearly four hours in 90-degree heat, the group marched south to Lincoln Park and then west to the 18th district police station, where dozens of officers lined either side of the street. Tensions rose as protesters formed lines opposite the officers, chanting “who do you protect? who do you serve?”

The marchers eventually took a knee outside the station, and organizers and protesters took turns speaking to the crowd, singing and sharing stories of their experiences of police brutality.

Marching amidst the crowd, Tasha Quinn, 33, said she normally doesn’t protest but said she could no longer stay at home. Carrying a sign reading “Stop Killing Our Black Men,” Quinn said she was born near where George Floyd died in Minneapolis, and now lives in Chicago.

“I’m tired. I’m tired of seeing our people killed,” said Quinn as the group streamed past a closed Mariano’s supermarket people tried to loot Monday night. “I’m just at my limit.”

Quinn said she and her friends deliberately chose comfy clothes that they didn’t care about, and sensible shoes they could run in, just in case violence broke out during or immediately after Tuesday’s march. Chicago remains under a curfew beginning at 8 p.m. and Quinn said the possibility of violence in her community is always a concern- both from criminals and from police officers treating innocent people unfairly.

”That’s why we’re doing this,” she said, gesturing at the marchers. “Because we aren’t safe, because we aren’t protected.”

Chicago police on Monday made 396 arrests, including 146 for looting, according to a spokesperson.

– Grace Hauck and Trevor Hughes, USA TODAY

Phoenix: Thousands of protesters take to streets as ‘Churches Stand Together’

More than 1,000 people met outside Phoenix City Hall and began marching through downtown Phoenix by 5:30 p.m. 

Meanwhile, hundreds of people, maybe more than 1,000, gathered outside Neighborhood Ministries near 19th Avenue and Van Buren Street. They planned to begin walking the half-mile to Wesley Bolin Memorial Plaza outside the Arizona Capitol and hold a prayer service. 

The protest at the Capitol was organized by “Arizona Churches Stand Together for Black Lives,” which created an event page that showed more than 600 planning to attend and 1,000 more interested. 

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The group was “organically” formed in the past 24 hours with three Phoenix churches at the helm — Roosevelt Community Church, Redemption Church Alhambra and All Souls Phoenix — according to Dennae Pierre. The churches’ congregations are multiethnic, many from black and Latino communities, she said.

“Our hearts are broken over the continued violence against black lives,” said Pierre, whose husband, Vermon, is a pastor at Roosevelt Community Church.

“Year after year, we have these stories that surface and, you know, what does it look like to not just be sorry about it and sad until the news dies down, but to really commit to a life of change and being part of rebuilding what needs to be built?”

– Chelsea Curtis, Arizona Republic

Louisville, Kentucky: Protesters turn out at David McAtee candlelight vigil

Protesters returned to the streets in downtown Louisville following the fatal shooting of David McAtee and five days of protests over the death of Breonna Taylor. 

A few hundred people gathered outside Metro Hall at 5 p.m., just a few hours after Louisville Metro Police released additional video footage they say shows McAtee shooting a gun before law enforcement officials returned fire. Other groups have popped up around town, including another gathering at Dino’s Food Mart, where McAtee was killed.

A candlelight vigil began at around 9:30 p.m. by Dino’s Food Mart.

A crowd had been at the scene all evening, according to Courier Journal reporters Phillip M. Bailey and Johnathan Bullington, honoring the life of the local barbecue shop owner. Those in attendance lit up candles to remember the 53-year-old McAtee while his nephew, Marvin McAtee, served barbecue to those in attendance.

Louisville’s curfew went into effect more than a half-hour earlier at 9 p.m.

– Lucas Aulbach, Ben Tobin and Emma Austin, The Courier-Journal (Louisville, Ky.)

Minneapolis: ‘Silent clergy march’ stretches for two blocks, stops traffic

The Rev. Stacey Smith organized a pair of marches in the Twin Cities on Tuesday, but even she was surprised at the large turnout.

“God bless you all. This is much bigger than I thought that it would be,” Smith told a gathering of about 300 people shortly before they set out for a seven-block walk down 38th Street in south Minneapolis. 

The destination was Cup Foods, where George Floyd died on Memorial Day while handcuffed in police custody. Smith, a leader in the African Methodist Episcopal church here, told the faith leaders ready to walk with her: “We are here for justice and peace today.”

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Black clergy members led the way, followed by white ministers “as a symbolic show that you’ve got our backs in this,” Smith said to loud applause.

It was billed as a “silent clergy march” and the group quietly proceeded down the middle of the street, stretching for two blocks while traffic stopped.

One man on a bicycle watched and broke the silence by raising his hands over his hands and clapping.

– Mark Emmert, Des Moines Register

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Los Angeles: Protesters remain peaceful: ‘It’s time for change’

In downtown Los Angeles, hundreds of protesters remained peaceful while at times kneeling en masse against police brutality and at others calling for the resignation of a Los Angeles Police Department chief who had blamed looters for George Floyd’s death. 

Roughly two dozen police officers in riot helmets and a handful of California National Guardsmen stood under ornate columns and guarded the art deco-styled City Hall from protesters who made no effort to breach metal barricades or police tape. 

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Some of the protesters waved signs calling for the firing of Police Chief Michel Moore, who on Monday had lashed out at Los Angeles looters by declaring: “His death is on their hands, as much as it is on those officers.” 

At around 1 p.m., the protesters left City Hall to snake, chanting, through downtown. Guardsmen armed with semi-automatic rifles stood in front of businesses that were vastly shuttered or boarded up due to a combination of the novel coronavirus and nights of looting that have brought comparisons to the city’s riots following the Rodney King beating in 1992. 

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But Tuesday afternoon, with the downtown air pungent with sage and marijuana, the protesters seemed to be in a constructive mood. Some distributed face masks. Others, veggie quesadillas. Chinatown resident Brandon Anaya and two friends handed out bottles of water, granola bars and bananas. 

Anaya, who wore a Mexican flag bandana over his mouth and nose, was born the year of the L.A. riots. He said he had to convince his father Francisco, who had lived through them, that participating in this protest was a good idea.

“He said it’s time for change, to do it right, and to do it properly and peacefully, and I think that’s what we’re seeing today,” said Anaya. “We’re Hispanic, and the police treat us the same way they treat black people.” 

Protesters kneeled in front of the officers and yelled for them to join them, but the cops didn’t budge. An irate protester pointed at them and let loose a stream of profanities. It was the sort of tense situation that Americans have watched boil over into violence many times over the last week.  

– Gus Garcia-Roberts, USA TODAY

Augusta, Georgia: Pop-up protest against racial injustice draws 100 people

Though they only had a few hours to set it up, Alasya Owten and Francesca Collette-Hicks were determined to have a march against racial injustice.

“I actually called the sheriff to try to get a permit, but they actually told me it was pretty late,” Owten said. “I got in contact with the lieutenant of the sheriff department and he actually just sent me a confirmation email saying that we’ll be protected and safe out here.”

With that support and the power of social media, they brought out over 100 supporters to a peaceful protest in the heart of downtown Augusta. The march started at 7:30 and ended at a local confederate monument.

“What makes me so happy right now is when I look out across this plaza, and we shadow a statue that tells us we aren’t worth anything, we look out and see people of all races, all colors, all backgrounds, all social economics, are saying that we do matter and that our voices will be heard,” Johnson said.

This was the fifth event in the Augusta-area held in response to the death of Floyd. All five have been peaceful.

–Miguel Legoas, The Augusta Chronicle

Indianapolis: Demonstrations continue on third night of citywide curfew

Demonstrators gathered in downtown Indianapolis for the fifth straight day to protest recent police-involved killings of black people, including George Floyd and Dreasjon Reed in Indianapolis.

The city is on its third night of curfew, which began at 9 p.m. and ends at 6 a.m. Wednesday.

Just before 8:30 p.m., a crowd of roughly 200 demonstrators started moving south on Meridian Street from Monument Circle and toward the City-County Building.

A group of protesters was seen debating whether to stay or go home once curfew goes into effect. One protester warned that those who stay past curfew “will be engaged by the police.”

– Matthew VanTryon, Indianapolis Star

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Washington, D.C: Protesters remain past curfew near White House

The large crowd protesting near the White House past the 7 p.m. curfew continued to chant and demonstrate against police brutality. 

Some, calling for a peaceful protest, booed a man who tore down a street sign in the area. People also threw bottles at him as he climbed down from the street signpost. 

Residents in a northwest neighborhood of the city, far from the main protests, leaned out their apartment windows, banging together frying pans and other noisemakers.

The clanging stopped after several minutes. Helicopters could then be heard circling in the distance. Meanwhile, the vast majority of protesters remained outside the White House. 

– Joey Garrison, John Fritze, Michelle R. Martinelli and Matthew Brown, USA TODAY

Milwaukee: At least 2 protesters arrested after clashes with police

Police released a statement saying protesters were throwing rocks and glass at officers, resulting in at least two arrests after a dramatic standoff just west of the Milwaukee River.

After police fired several tear gas canisters and rubber bullets at protesters, the crowd had largely dispersed as of 8 p.m.

– Bill Glauber, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel 

Brockton, Massachusetts: Fireworks thrown at police, tear gas deployed

Tensions escalated, resulting in police deploying tear gas and flash-bang grenades at protesters who threw fireworks and other objects at them.

Following a protest and peace rally at West Middle School, which remained peaceful, hundreds of protesters at various points split off and began walking eastbound toward downtown.

Hundreds of protesters first gathered outside Brockton City Hall in the amphitheater, where several impromptu speeches took place. Protesters then walked to the nearby Brockton Police Department, where they have remained for hours.

– Cody Shepard, The Enterprise

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