Protests against police brutality in Detroit continue for the fifth straight day, with crowds that started gathering about 4 p.m. Tuesday near Detroit Police Department headquarters downtown.
Weekend 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. There were more than 244 people arrested this weekend –– 60 on Friday, 84 on Saturday and over 100 on Sunday. Of the 244, only 72 are Detroit residents.
More: Arrested by police at a protest? Here are local bail, legal resources to use
Monday's protest ended peacefully shortly after the curfew.
The protests in Detroit started Friday after George Floyd, a black man from Minneapolis, died May 25 after police officer Derek Chauvin forced Floyd to the ground and continued holding him down, using his knee against Floyd's neck. Chauvin has been charged with murder.
8:00 p.m.: Curfew kicks in
Protesters downtown seem to be heading home, but many walking on Gratiot Avenue continue marching with police at the scene.
The first warning from Detroit police came at 8:01 p.m. There's been no indication as to how far the group plans to move forward.
A speaker repeated the phone number for bailout assistance in case of an arrest, saying, "You need to put that number on your body."
7:56 p.m.: Downtown protest ends peacefully
There aren't many police officers downtown, and organizers urged protesters to go home. Many were seen walking away from the group.
"I'm going to make sure my people get home safe and sound," one protester said. "We're making history."
7:50 p.m.: Police arrive on Gratiot
Police cars showed up on Gratiot Avenue to follow the protesters as the 8 p.m. curfew approaches. When police became visible, people began putting on masks, covering up their eyes and writing phone numbers of lawyers on their arms.
Organizers are prepared to continue marching.
7:40 p.m.: Crowd continues away from downtown
Less than 200 protesters have continued on Gratiot Avenue, away from downtown, while others turned around to get home before the curfew.
"The people united will never be defeated," marchers chanted while making a stop at the Van Dyke Avenue intersection.
"You are the front line" and "shoulder to shoulder" were other chants used. Another chant used again: "Say their name; which one?"
7:20 p.m.: 'If you want to go back, now is the time'
Organizers stopped marchers in the middle of Gratiot Avenue and East Grand Boulevard and told them to return home in groups if they don't want to break the 8 p.m. curfew.
About half of the protesters are walking back to get home before the curfew. Less than 200 are pressing on. Many were afraid of getting arrested for being out past the curfew.
7:10 p.m.: March heads north
Protesters left Mack Avenue for East Grand Boulevard and are roughly four miles from Detroit Police Department headquarters, which is where the march started.
The crowd is approaching Gratiot Avenue with less than an hour until the 8 p.m. curfew kicks in.
7:00 p.m.: Some protesters upset with route taken
The disagreement over which route to take –– Gratiot Avenue or Mack Avenue –– upset organizer Nicholas Buckingham, a campaign director for the criminal justice reform organization Michigan Liberation.
The protesters took Mack Avenue into the city neighborhoods. Buckingham said he feared that marching through neighborhoods would do more harm than good, especially if police react with force.
“I don’t like this because we’re going through one of the most impacted communities in Detroit. There’s a lot of people over here that suffer from gun violence, from warrants and felonies,” said Buckingham, his voice hoarse. “And to bring all of the people who are strange to this area and also the police, it’s against my values.”
6:44 p.m.: Organizers give option for break
As the crowd decreased due to the temperature, organizers gave marchers the option to take a break or continue forward.
"If you want to take a break, say, 'Take a break.' " an organizer said, to which nobody responded.
"If you want to keep going, say, 'Keep going,' " the person added. In unison, the protesters yelled, "Keep going."
The plan, leaders said, is to get back on Gratiot Avenue.
6:28 p.m.: March heads to Mack
Marchers were traveling north on Gratiot Avenue and, after some confusion, ended up turning down Mack Avenue toward the neighborhoods.
A handful of people have left because of the heat, but there's still an estimated 300-400 left. An organizer told the crowd to slow down and wait for medics to catch up.
"A powerful movement," one protester said.
"Hands up; don't shoot" was the general chant being used by people marching, riding skateboards and following along on bicycles. Some were ringing cowbells.
Even a family outside of their house joined by chanting with the protesters: "Hands up; don't shoot."
6:10 p.m.: Some turn back due to heat
As the march continues north on Gratiot Avenue, some have turned around because of the 90-degree temperature.
Medical responders have parked their vehicles on the side of the road and are offering water.
5:53 p.m.: New chant: 'Say their name; which one?'
Over the weekend and into Monday, a few of the many chants shouted were, "Hands up, don't shoot" and "I can't breathe."
The Detroit protesters, after moving through Campus Martius, chanted, "Say their name; which one?"
5:40 p.m.: March enters Campus Martius
Marchers have entered into Campus Martius, heading toward Gratiot Avenue. A designated stopping point hasn't been given, and organizers continue to tell the crowd they plan to be out past the 8 p.m. curfew.
5:25 p.m.: Protesters begin to march
The crowd began to march down the east side, where they'll take Gratiot Avenue. According to organizer Tristan Taylor, they won't abide by the curfew.
Plenty of people marching carried signs, including one that read, "All lives cannot matter until black lives matter." Some used profanity.
5:12 p.m.: Medics on scene, legal help offered
Medical responders are downtown as the temperature sits at 90 degrees and isn't expected to drop below 80 degrees until 11 p.m. Many people brought water and coolers with them.
Michigan Liberation, a network that promotes criminal justice reform, arrived to provide any legal help needed.
5:06 p.m.: No plans to stop protesting
A protester from By Any Means Necessary, or BAMN, said the group will march for as long as possible. She pleaded for "Justice for George Floyd" among a list of demands.
4:45 p.m.: Protesters provide food
Protesters put together 100 lunch bags that include sandwiches, fruit, snacks and water to aid food insecurity in Detroit. The speaker that told the crowd about the available food said, "This is a part of systematic racism."
Another speaker, Nakai Wallace of Detroit, said, "It's not a celebration. Don't let nobody take your anger away from you." The 23-year-old spoke to the protesters outside of the Detroit Police Department.
4:25 p.m.: Protesters begin gathering
Roughly 100 people arrived at the Detroit Police Department headquarters for the fifth day of protests. A speaker told the crowd to ignore the 8 p.m. curfew. One protester said, "We've got to follow King's example. Unjust laws are meant to be broken."
Evan Petzold is a sports reporting intern at the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him on Twitter @EvanPetzold.
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