KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — Energized by the senseless death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, hundreds gathered in Kalamazoo at Michigan Avenue and Rose Street to protest police brutality directed at African Americans.
A diverse crowd gathered on the sidewalks, eventually moving into the road, shutting down the heart of the downtown just after 6 p.m. Saturday.
A protest was also held in Grand Rapids at Rosa Parks Circle. They joined the hundreds of thousands who have marched and demonstrated in cities all over the U.S.
They chanted, ”black lives matter” and, “I can’t breathe” in response to the disturbing video showing a Minneapolis police officer who stood on the neck of Floyd during an arrest.
The peaceful but noisy demonstration blocked the intersection for about ten minutes before heading east down Michigan Avenue.
At first, Kalamazoo Public Safety did not intervene, but rather moved into place two blocks away to divert traffic away from the protesters.
Most in the crowd were wearing face masks and, while social distancing was taking place at the fringe of the gathering, most were not keeping away from each other.
This comes after another protest was through downtown Kalamazoo around 12 pm. Saturday. Many held signs that read, #BlackLivesMatter, and “Justice for Mr. Floyd,” among others.
There were some high tensions between protesters and officers, but for the most part the crowd remained peaceful..
(John McNeill contributed to this report.)
