Sixth night of Memphis protest ends peacefully at 10 p.m. curfew

After five consecutive nights of Memphians taking to the streets to protest police brutality, some tried a different tactic Monday: a “rolling bridge blockade.”

Others continued to march, winding through the city’s downtown.

Unlike previous nights, protests appeared to end without confrontation with law enforcement, despite a curfew that went into effect at 10 p.m. and a heavy police presence in downtown Memphis. 

Some divisions among some local activists appeared to be on the mend when two groups reconciled early in the evening, one led by pastor and activist DeVante Hill, who left Saturday night’s protest after other leaders seized control, and another led by activist Frank Gottie.

“We’re gonna do this and we’re gonna do this together,” Hill said, to applause from others, including Gottie.

The group honored George Floyd with eight minutes of silence as they marched past the FedEx Forum. They shouted Floyd’s name, along with the names of black men shot by law enforcement in Memphis: Martavious Banks and Brandon Webber. Webber was shot and killed by U.S. Marshals last year.

When the group broke from marching, they spoke about unity. They urged support for more black-owned businesses while outside the Greater Memphis Chamber offices, criticized Memphis Light, Gas and Water for power cuts and encouraged voting for representative leadership.

Calvin Simple, who marched with the group, said he marched because he wanted everyone to be free, to feel safe and so he, and other black men, wouldn’t be afraid to be stopped by police.

“The only thing we’re looking for is for racism to end, of course, things like senseless killings like the George Floyd killing, things like that to stop,” he said.

At around the same time, the second protest was occurring — organized by the Memphis Coalition of Concerned Citizens.

Cars drove slowly across the Hernando de Soto Bridge, sometimes between 10-30 miles per hour, stalling traffic with blinkers on. Some people raised fists out of their windows. In one instance, traffic was stalled until a Tennessee Highway Patrol vehicle drove up immediately behind a protester. State troopers had a heavy presence on the bridge, and officers had multiple ramps blocked on both the Tennessee and Arkansas sides of the river, also slowing traffic. 

While participating in the "rolling bridge blockade," activist Hunter Demster was live streamed receiving a citation. In the video, an officer can be heard saying Demster was "impeding traffic." 

The group also targeted the I-55 bridge. 

Back in downtown Memphis, the group led by Hill split in two again toward the end of the evening. One group, still led by Hill, headed back toward the “I Am a Man Plaza,” where the evening began.

Another group remained behind at 201 Poplar, considering remaining past curfew and bracing for a possible confrontation with law enforcement. Leaders in the group said they were waiting for the release of protesters whose bail they had paid. 

Eventually, hearing that jailed protesters would not be released until activists left, protesters were directed to head home. 

Stopping in the intersection of B.B. King and Beale Street, the group led by Hill took a moment to sit in the street and pray.

“We’re out here right now … thanking you for Memphis right now, thanking you for the state of Tennessee right now, all these marches that are going on all over this country, black and white have come together like never before,” prayed the Rev. Charles Johnson, a Memphis pastor. “We thank you, God, for bringing us together.”

Then, after walking the rest of the way back to the “I Am a Man Plaza,” that group also dispersed peacefully.  

Katherine Burgess covers county government, religion and the suburbs. She can be reached at katherine.burgess@commercialappeal.com, 901-529-2799 or followed on Twitter @kathsburgess.