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Thousands protest across Broward, Palm Beach in peaceful displays; arrests near FIU

  • A man jumps on top of a car that was...

    Mike Stocker / South Florida Sun Sentinel

    A man jumps on top of a car that was later burned in downtown in Miami Florida on Saturday, May 30, 2020 as protests in the wake of the police killing of George Floyd turn violent.

  • Police wear riot gear in downtown Fort Lauderdale on Sunday,...

    John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel

    Police wear riot gear in downtown Fort Lauderdale on Sunday, May 31, 2020, after a peaceful march turned violent.

  • A police officer stands guard as firefighters try to put...

    Mike Stocker / South Florida Sun Sentinel

    A police officer stands guard as firefighters try to put out the fire in a burning car in downtown in Miami Florida on Saturday, May 30, 2020 as protests in the wake of the police killing of George Floyd turn violent.

  • Rhonda Reyna, of LaBelle, Fla., chants into a bullhorn during...

    Amy Beth Bennett/South Florida Sun Sentinel

    Rhonda Reyna, of LaBelle, Fla., chants into a bullhorn during a demonstration in West Palm Beach on Saturday, June 6, 2020.

  • Law enforcement blocks demonstrators from walking across the bridge on...

    John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel

    Law enforcement blocks demonstrators from walking across the bridge on Lakeview Avenue in West Palm Beach on Tuesday, June 2, 2020.

  • Protesters march in Hollywood Florida on State Road 441 and...

    Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel

    Protesters march in Hollywood Florida on State Road 441 and Griffin Road on Friday, June 5, 2020. They were peacefully protesting the murder of George Floyd' at the hands of police.

  • A police officer throws a tear gas canister to try...

    John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel

    A police officer throws a tear gas canister to try to disperse a crowd in downtown Fort Lauderdale on Sunday, May 31, 2020, after a peaceful march turned violent.

  • Mizner Park protest in Boca Raton on Sunday, June 7,...

    Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel

    Mizner Park protest in Boca Raton on Sunday, June 7, 2020.

  • West Palm Beach police chief Frank Adderley talks to protesters...

    Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel

    West Palm Beach police chief Frank Adderley talks to protesters in West Palm Beach Florida on Friday, June 5, 2020. They were peacefully protesting the murder of George Floyd' at the hands of police.

  • A protester throws a tear gas canister back at police...

    John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel

    A protester throws a tear gas canister back at police in downtown Fort Lauderdale on Sunday, May 31, 2020, after a peaceful march turned violent.

  • Danica Wuchenich, of Boynton Beach lays face down during a...

    Amy Beth Bennett/South Florida Sun Sentinel

    Danica Wuchenich, of Boynton Beach lays face down during a protest at the Palm Beach County Courthouse in West Palm Beach on Saturday, June 6, 2020

  • Protesters march down Broward Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale on Sunday,...

    John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel

    Protesters march down Broward Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale on Sunday, May 31, 2020, during a peaceful march in response to the killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer and other instances of police brutality.

  • People run as police throw tear gas at demonstrators in...

    Mike Stocker / South Florida Sun Sentinel

    People run as police throw tear gas at demonstrators in downtown in Miami Florida on Saturday, May 30, 2020 as protests in the wake of the police killing of George Floyd turn violent.

  • People march down Atlantic Avenue in Delray Beach on Wednesday,...

    John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel

    People march down Atlantic Avenue in Delray Beach on Wednesday, June 3, 2020, to protest the death of George Floyd by Minneapolis police.

  • Florida Highway Patrol officers wear riot gear to halt people...

    John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel

    Florida Highway Patrol officers wear riot gear to halt people marching down Glades Road in Boca Raton on Monday, June 1, 2020.

  • (From left) Dominic Stalworth, West Palm Beach police officer Darien...

    Amy Beth Bennett/South Florida Sun Sentinel

    (From left) Dominic Stalworth, West Palm Beach police officer Darien Thomas and Ronnie Coleman take a knee during a demonstration in West Palm Beach on Saturday, June 6, 2020. The three were classmates and played in the band together at Palm Beach Lakes High.

  • Mizner Park protest in Boca Raton on Sunday, June 7,...

    Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel

    Mizner Park protest in Boca Raton on Sunday, June 7, 2020.

  • People march around Young Circle in Hollywood on Sunday, June...

    John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel

    People march around Young Circle in Hollywood on Sunday, June 7, 2020, to protest the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police.

  • Marchers pass the clock tower during a demonstration to memorialize...

    Joe Cavaretta / South Florida Sun Sentinel

    Marchers pass the clock tower during a demonstration to memorialize George Floyd at Mizner Park in Boca Raton, Sunday, June 7, 2020.

  • Demonstrators lay on the ground and take a knee at...

    John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel

    Demonstrators lay on the ground and take a knee at an intersection of Atlantic Avenue in Delray Beach on Wednesday, June 3, 2020, to protest the death of George Floyd by Minneapolis police.

  • Protesters run from a burning car in downtown in Miami...

    Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel

    Protesters run from a burning car in downtown in Miami Florida on Saturday, May 30, 2020 as protests in the wake of the police killing of George Floyd turn violent.

  • Florida Highway Patrol officers take a knee alongside Vell Remy...

    John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel

    Florida Highway Patrol officers take a knee alongside Vell Remy (center) and Capt. Roger Reyes during a protest in response to the death of George Floyd near the Glades Road I-95 exit in Boca Raton on Monday, June 1, 2020.

  • People gathered in Boca Raton on June 7, 2020, as...

    Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel

    People gathered in Boca Raton on June 7, 2020, as part of the movement against systemic racism spurred by the killing of George Floyd.

  • Protesters lay down in the middle of North Dixie Highway...

    Mike Stocker / South Florida Sun Sentinel

    Protesters lay down in the middle of North Dixie Highway in West Palm Beach Florida along with other protesters for 8 minutes and 46 seconds on Friday, June 5, 2020 to represent the amount of time police had their knee on George Floyd's neck while he was killed.

  • Protesters march down Broward Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale on Sunday,...

    John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel

    Protesters march down Broward Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale on Sunday, May 31, 2020, during a peaceful march in response to the killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer and other instances of police brutality.

  • Protesters march in Hollywood Florida on State Road 441 just...

    Mike Stocker / South Florida Sun Sentinel

    Protesters march in Hollywood Florida on State Road 441 just south of I-595 on Friday, June 5, 2020. They were peacefully protesting the murder of George Floyd' at the hands of police.

  • Students from Boca Raton High School demonstrate peacefully at Mizner...

    Jennifer Lett/Sun Sentinel

    Students from Boca Raton High School demonstrate peacefully at Mizner Park in Boca Raton on June 6, 2020. Jennifer Lett South Florida Sun Sentinel

  • A group of peaceful protesters takes a knee and pauses...

    Mike Stocker / South Florida Sun Sentinel

    A group of peaceful protesters takes a knee and pauses as they march down Broward Blvd. in Fort Lauderdale Florida on Saturday, June 6, 2020. They were peacefully protesting the murder of George Floyd' at the hands of police.

  • People march down Atlantic Avenue in Delray Beach on Wednesday,...

    John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel

    People march down Atlantic Avenue in Delray Beach on Wednesday, June 3, 2020, to protest the death of George Floyd by Minneapolis police.

  • Boca Raton police vehicles are seen blocking one of the...

    John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel

    Boca Raton police vehicles are seen blocking one of the entrances to Town Center Mall on Monday, June 1, 2020, in preparation for people protesting the death of George Floyd in police custody.

  • Law enforcement officers block an intersection of Hollywood Boulevard on...

    John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel

    Law enforcement officers block an intersection of Hollywood Boulevard on Sunday, June 7, 2020, as people protest the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police.

  • Katherine Cardona and Tahisha Legrand react to hearing the news...

    Mike Stocker / South Florida Sun Sentinel

    Katherine Cardona and Tahisha Legrand react to hearing the news announced to the crowd by Terrance Wilson, Pastor of the COOL (Created Out of Love) Church that all four officers in the murder of George Floyd will be facing charges. They were participating in a Police escorted funeral procession from Hallandale to Miramar Florida to symbolize the killing of George Floyd and others at the hands of police. They were calling for the death of racism and used the protest as an opportunity to register people to vote.

  • People protesting the death of George Floyd chant in front...

    John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel

    People protesting the death of George Floyd chant in front of Florida Highway Patrol officers near the Glades Road I-95 exit in Boca Raton on Monday, June 1, 2020.

  • A group of peaceful protesters takes a knee and pauses...

    Mike Stocker / South Florida Sun Sentinel

    A group of peaceful protesters takes a knee and pauses as they march down Broward Blvd. in Fort Lauderdale Florida on Saturday, June 6, 2020. They were peacefully protesting the murder of George Floyd' at the hands of police.

  • Hallandale police Major Edward McGovern hugs Amora Collins, 4. They...

    Mike Stocker / South Florida Sun Sentinel

    Hallandale police Major Edward McGovern hugs Amora Collins, 4. They were participating in a Police escorted funeral procession form Hallandale to Miramar Florida to symbolize the killing of George Floyd and others at the hands of police. They were calling for the death of racism and used the protest as an opportunity to register people to vote.

  • Rachel Jenkins, of West Palm Beach stands out of her...

    Amy Beth Bennett/South Florida Sun Sentinel

    Rachel Jenkins, of West Palm Beach stands out of her sunroof with a sign during a demonstration in West Palm Beach on Saturday, June 6, 2020. Jenkins said she wanted to participate but still maintain social distancing.

  • A protester douses his face with milk after tear gas...

    John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel

    A protester douses his face with milk after tear gas was used by police in downtown Fort Lauderdale on Sunday, May 31, 2020, after a peaceful march turned violent.

  • People protesting the death of George Floyd chant in front...

    John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel

    People protesting the death of George Floyd chant in front of Florida Highway Patrol officers near the Glades Road I-95 exit in Boca Raton on Monday, June 1, 2020.

  • Students from Boca Raton High School demonstrate peacefully at Mizner...

    Jennifer Lett/Sun Sentinel

    Students from Boca Raton High School demonstrate peacefully at Mizner Park in Boca Raton on June 6, 2020. Jennifer Lett South Florida Sun Sentinel

  • (center, blonde) Zykeria Edwards, 17, kneels with a group of...

    Amy Beth Bennett/South Florida Sun Sentinel

    (center, blonde) Zykeria Edwards, 17, kneels with a group of protestors during a demonstration in West Palm Beach on Saturday, June 6, 2020.

  • Protesters took part in a police escorted funeral procession form...

    Mike Stocker / South Florida Sun Sentinel

    Protesters took part in a police escorted funeral procession form Hallandale to Miramar Florida drives west on Hallandale Beach Blvd. to symbolize the killing of George Floyd and others at the hands of police. They were calling for the death of racism and used the protest as an opportunity to register people to vote.

  • People take a knee in the middle of an intersection...

    John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel

    People take a knee in the middle of an intersection in West Palm Beach on Tuesday, June 2, 2020, to protest the death of George Floyd by Minneapolis police.

  • Protestors peacefully assemble at the Palm Beach County Courthouse in...

    Amy Beth Bennett / South Florida Sun Sentinel

    Protestors peacefully assemble at the Palm Beach County Courthouse in West Palm Beach on Saturday, June 6, 2020.

  • People protesting the death of George Floyd chant in front...

    John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel

    People protesting the death of George Floyd chant in front of Florida Highway Patrol officers near the Glades Road I-95 exit in Boca Raton on Monday, June 1, 2020.

  • People gather near Town Center Mall in Boca Raton on...

    John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel

    People gather near Town Center Mall in Boca Raton on Monday, June 1, 2020, to protest the death of George Floyd in police custody.

  • People protesting the death of George Floyd chant in front...

    John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel

    People protesting the death of George Floyd chant in front of Florida Highway Patrol officers near the Glades Road I-95 exit in Boca Raton on Monday, June 1, 2020.

  • Protesters march down Broward Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale on Sunday,...

    John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel

    Protesters march down Broward Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale on Sunday, May 31, 2020, during a peaceful march in response to the killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer and other instances of police brutality.

  • People gather near Town Center Mall in Boca Raton on...

    John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel

    People gather near Town Center Mall in Boca Raton on Monday, June 1, 2020, to protest the death of George Floyd in police custody.

  • Protesters express their frustrations during a demonstration in Coral Gables...

    Mike Stocker / South Florida Sun Sentinel

    Protesters express their frustrations during a demonstration in Coral Gables Florida on Saturday, May 30, 2020. The peaceful group was protesting the recent police killings including George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Eric Garner, Michael Brown, Taime, Rice, Sandra Bland and others. They were also protesting against: police brutality, systemic racism overt racism, racial oppression, mass incarceration, colorblind racism, and radicalized police.

  • A Police escorted funeral procession form Hallandale to Miramar Florida...

    Mike Stocker / South Florida Sun Sentinel

    A Police escorted funeral procession form Hallandale to Miramar Florida drives west on Hallandale Beach Blvd. to symbolize the killing of George Floyd and others at the hands of police. They were calling for the death of racism and used the protest as an opportunity to register people to vote.

  • Police officers from various agencies throughout South Florida take a...

    Mike Stocker / South Florida Sun Sentinel

    Police officers from various agencies throughout South Florida take a knee in prayer along with protesters during a demonstration in Coral Gables Florida on Saturday, May 30, 2020. The peaceful group was protesting the recent police killings including George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Eric Garner, Michael Brown, Tamir Rice, Sandra Bland and others. They were also protesting against: police brutality, systemic racism overt racism, racial oppression, mass incarceration, colorblind racism, and radicalized police.

  • Protesters march in Hollywood Florida on State Road 441 just...

    Mike Stocker / South Florida Sun Sentinel

    Protesters march in Hollywood Florida on State Road 441 just south of I-595 on Friday, June 5, 2020. They were peacefully protesting the murder of George Floyd' at the hands of police.

  • Protestors march to the Palm Beach County Courthouse in West...

    Amy Beth Bennett/South Florida Sun Sentinel

    Protestors march to the Palm Beach County Courthouse in West Palm Beach on Saturday, June 6, 2020.

  • People gather near Town Center Mall in Boca Raton on...

    John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel

    People gather near Town Center Mall in Boca Raton on Monday, June 1, 2020, to protest the death of George Floyd in police custody.

  • People march through traffic lanes on Glades Road in Boca...

    John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel

    People march through traffic lanes on Glades Road in Boca Raton on Monday, June 1, 2020, to protest the death of George Floyd in police custody in Minneapolis.

  • Protesters march down Broward Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale on Sunday,...

    John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel

    Protesters march down Broward Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale on Sunday, May 31, 2020, during a peaceful march in response to the killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer and other instances of police brutality.

  • People gather near Town Center Mall in Boca Raton on...

    John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel

    People gather near Town Center Mall in Boca Raton on Monday, June 1, 2020, to protest the death of George Floyd in police custody.

  • Protestors march to the Palm Beach County Courthouse in West...

    Amy Beth Bennett/South Florida Sun Sentinel

    Protestors march to the Palm Beach County Courthouse in West Palm Beach on Saturday, June 6, 2020.

  • Protesters at Mizner Park in Boca Raton on June 7,...

    Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel

    Protesters at Mizner Park in Boca Raton on June 7, 2020, standing against systemic racism in a national movement that began with the killing of George Floyd.

  • Protesters gather in Coral Gables Florida on Saturday, May 30,...

    Mike Stocker / South Florida Sun Sentinel

    Protesters gather in Coral Gables Florida on Saturday, May 30, 2020. The peaceful group was protesting the recent police killings including George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Eric Garner, Michael Brown, Sandra Bland and others. They were also protesting against: police brutality, systemic racism overt racism, racial oppression, mass incarceration, colorblind racism, and radicalized police.

  • Service dog Luna is seen during a demonstration to memorialize...

    Joe Cavaretta / South Florida Sun Sentinel

    Service dog Luna is seen during a demonstration to memorialize George Floyd at Mizner Park in Boca Raton, Sunday, June 7, 2020.

  • Protesters hold their fists in the air in front of...

    John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel

    Protesters hold their fists in the air in front of police in downtown Fort Lauderdale on Sunday, May 31, 2020, after a peaceful march turned violent.

  • People march onto the off ramp of Australia Avenue in...

    John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel

    People march onto the off ramp of Australia Avenue in West Palm Beach on Tuesday, June 2, 2020, to protest the death of George Floyd by Minneapolis police.

  • Protesters took part in a police escorted funeral procession form...

    Mike Stocker / South Florida Sun Sentinel

    Protesters took part in a police escorted funeral procession form Hallandale to Miramar Florida drives west on Hallandale Beach Blvd. to symbolize the killing of George Floyd and others at the hands of police. They were calling for the death of racism and used the protest as an opportunity to register people to vote.

  • Protesters gather in Coral Gables Florida on Saturday, May 30,...

    Mike Stocker / South Florida Sun Sentinel

    Protesters gather in Coral Gables Florida on Saturday, May 30, 2020. The peaceful group was protesting the recent police killings including George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Eric Garner, Michael Brown, Sandra Bland and others.

  • A police officer uses pepper spray to disperse a crowd...

    John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel

    A police officer uses pepper spray to disperse a crowd in downtown Fort Lauderdale on Sunday, May 31, 2020, after a peaceful march turned violent.

  • Police throw tear gas canisters to disperse a crowd in...

    John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel

    Police throw tear gas canisters to disperse a crowd in downtown Fort Lauderdale on Sunday, May 31, 2020, after a peaceful march turned violent.

  • Protesters march in Coral Gables Florida on Saturday, May 30,...

    Mike Stocker / South Florida Sun Sentinel

    Protesters march in Coral Gables Florida on Saturday, May 30, 2020. The peaceful group was protesting the recent police killings including George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Eric Garner, Michael Brown, Sandra Bland and others. They were also protesting against: police brutality, systemic racism overt racism, racial oppression, mass incarceration, colorblind racism, and radicalized police.

  • Florida Highway Patrol officers interact with people protesting the death...

    John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel

    Florida Highway Patrol officers interact with people protesting the death of George Floyd near the Glades Road I-95 exit in Boca Raton on Monday, June 1, 2020.

  • People march in West Palm Beach on Tuesday, June 2,...

    John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel

    People march in West Palm Beach on Tuesday, June 2, 2020, to protest the death of George Floyd by Minneapolis police.

  • People raise their fists in the air near Young Circle...

    John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel

    People raise their fists in the air near Young Circle in Hollywood on Sunday, June 7, 2020, during a march to protest the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police.

  • Protestors march to the Palm Beach County Courthouse in West...

    Amy Beth Bennett/South Florida Sun Sentinel

    Protestors march to the Palm Beach County Courthouse in West Palm Beach on Saturday, June 6, 2020.

  • Isheka Harrison and her niece Amora Collins, 4, listen to...

    Mike Stocker / South Florida Sun Sentinel

    Isheka Harrison and her niece Amora Collins, 4, listen to Terrance Wilson, Pastor of the COOL (Created Out of Love) Church. They were participating in a Police escorted funeral procession form Hallandale to Miramar Florida to symbolize the killing of George Floyd and others at the hands of police. They were calling for the death of racism and used the protest as an opportunity to register people to vote.

  • A sunflower bearing a tag marked @SunflowersInDowntownWPB is tucked into...

    Amy Beth Bennett / South Florida Sun Sentinel

    A sunflower bearing a tag marked @SunflowersInDowntownWPB is tucked into a statue of a West Palm Beach Police officer hugging a child in West Palm Beach on Saturday, June 6, 2020.

  • People march down Glades Road in Boca Raton on Monday,...

    John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel

    People march down Glades Road in Boca Raton on Monday, June 1, 2020, to protest the death of George Floyd in police custody in Minneapolis.

  • Demonstrators assemble near a road block set up by law...

    John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel

    Demonstrators assemble near a road block set up by law enforcement near the bridge on Lakeview Avenue in West Palm Beach on Tuesday, June 2, 2020.

  • People run as police throw tear gas at demonstrators in...

    Mike Stocker / South Florida Sun Sentinel

    People run as police throw tear gas at demonstrators in downtown in Miami Florida on Saturday, May 30, 2020 as protests in the wake of the police killing of George Floyd turn violent.

  • Protestors lie face down in memoriam of George Floyd at...

    Amy Beth Bennett / South Florida Sun Sentinel

    Protestors lie face down in memoriam of George Floyd at the Palm Beach County Courthouse in West Palm Beach on Saturday, June 6, 2020.

  • (left, in black tee shirt) Taqwan Caeser, 14, and (in...

    Amy Beth Bennett/South Florida Sun Sentinel

    (left, in black tee shirt) Taqwan Caeser, 14, and (in white) Zykira Maiden, 17, yell in a group of protestors during a demonstration in West Palm Beach on Saturday, June 6, 2020.

  • People gather near Town Center Mall in Boca Raton on...

    John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel

    People gather near Town Center Mall in Boca Raton on Monday, June 1, 2020, to protest the death of George Floyd in police custody.

  • Protesters take to the streets in downtown in Miami Florida...

    Mike Stocker / South Florida Sun Sentinel

    Protesters take to the streets in downtown in Miami Florida on Saturday, May 30, 2020 as protests in the wake of the police killing of George Floyd turn violent.

  • Protestors march to the Palm Beach County Courthouse in West...

    Amy Beth Bennett/South Florida Sun Sentinel

    Protestors march to the Palm Beach County Courthouse in West Palm Beach on Saturday, June 6, 2020.

  • Delray Beach police chief Javaro Sims speaks after marching with...

    John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel

    Delray Beach police chief Javaro Sims speaks after marching with demonstrators down Atlantic Avenue on Wednesday, June 3, 2020, to protest the death of George Floyd by Minneapolis police.

  • People march onto the off ramp of Australia Avenue in...

    John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel

    People march onto the off ramp of Australia Avenue in West Palm Beach on Tuesday, June 2, 2020, to protest the death of George Floyd by Minneapolis police.

  • Protestors march to the Palm Beach County Courthouse in West...

    Amy Beth Bennett/South Florida Sun Sentinel

    Protestors march to the Palm Beach County Courthouse in West Palm Beach on Saturday, June 6, 2020.

  • Police officers from various agencies throughout South Florida take a...

    Mike Stocker / South Florida Sun Sentinel

    Police officers from various agencies throughout South Florida take a knee in prayer along with protesters during a demonstration in Coral Gables Florida on Saturday, May 30, 2020. The peaceful group was protesting the recent police killings including George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Eric Garner, Michael Brown, Taime, Rice, Sandra Bland and others. They were also protesting against: police brutality, systemic racism overt racism, racial oppression, mass incarceration, colorblind racism, and radicalized police.

  • Protesters confront police officers wearing riot gear in downtown Fort...

    John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel

    Protesters confront police officers wearing riot gear in downtown Fort Lauderdale on Sunday, May 31, 2020, after a peaceful march turned violent.

  • Police line up in front of protesters in Hollywood Florida...

    Mike Stocker / South Florida Sun Sentinel

    Police line up in front of protesters in Hollywood Florida on State Road 441 and Griffin Road on Friday, June 5, 2020. They were peacefully protesting the murder of George Floyd' at the hands of police.

  • A man rides his skateboard as police throw tear gas...

    Mike Stocker / South Florida Sun Sentinel

    A man rides his skateboard as police throw tear gas at demonstrators in downtown in Miami Florida on Saturday, May 30, 2020 as protests in the wake of the police killing of George Floyd turn violent.

  • People gather near Town Center Mall in Boca Raton on...

    John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel

    People gather near Town Center Mall in Boca Raton on Monday, June 1, 2020, to protest the death of George Floyd in police custody.

  • Bob Thomas, of Boynton Beach, walks with his U.S. and...

    Amy Beth Bennett / South Florida Sun Sentinel

    Bob Thomas, of Boynton Beach, walks with his U.S. and "Thin Blue Line" flags in support of law enforcement as the Palm Beach Sherrif's Office has the bridge closed at Southern Blvd. and Flagler Drive in West Palm Beach on Saturday, June 6, 2020. Thomas said, "I am here to give the police a voice. They have been beaten down pretty good the last few weeks and I just want to be here and support them. I really do."

  • Hallandale police Captain Megan Jones hugs Amora Collins, 4. They...

    Mike Stocker / South Florida Sun Sentinel

    Hallandale police Captain Megan Jones hugs Amora Collins, 4. They were participating in a Police escorted funeral procession form Hallandale to Miramar Florida to symbolize the killing of George Floyd and others at the hands of police. They were calling for the death of racism and used the protest as an opportunity to register people to vote.

  • A Boca Raton police officer is confronted on Monday, June...

    John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel

    A Boca Raton police officer is confronted on Monday, June 1, 2020, by a crowd protesting the death of George Floyd in police custody in Minneapolis.

  • People walk across Glades Road near Town Center Mall in...

    John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel

    People walk across Glades Road near Town Center Mall in Boca Raton on Monday, June 1, 2020, to protest the death of George Floyd in police custody in Minneapolis.

  • Anthony Jenner and Katrina Lehman share a moment of silence...

    Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel

    Anthony Jenner and Katrina Lehman share a moment of silence for George Floyd during a protest at Mizner Park in Boca Raton on Sunday, June 7, 2020.

  • Donavan Jackson holds his daughter Naomi Jackson, 4 along with...

    Mike Stocker / South Florida Sun Sentinel

    Donavan Jackson holds his daughter Naomi Jackson, 4 along with his other daughter Genesis Brown, 7, and their Mom Chimene Purdy during a protest in Coral Gables Florida on Saturday, May 30, 2020.

  • (left) Tristan Jarvin and Jordyn Boutwell take a break under...

    Amy Beth Bennett/South Florida Sun Sentinel

    (left) Tristan Jarvin and Jordyn Boutwell take a break under a rainbow umbrella during a protest at the Palm Beach County Courthouse in West Palm Beach on Saturday, June 6, 2020.

  • People march down Quadrille Boulevard in West Palm Beach on...

    John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel

    People march down Quadrille Boulevard in West Palm Beach on Tuesday, June 2, 2020, to protest the death of George Floyd by Minneapolis police.

  • Hollywood police Maj. Norris Redding takes a knee and holds...

    John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel

    Hollywood police Maj. Norris Redding takes a knee and holds his fist in the air alongside demonstrators on Sunday, June 7, 2020, during a march to protest the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police.

  • Toni Ballinger and her son Rasai Bien Time, 2 listen...

    Mike Stocker / South Florida Sun Sentinel

    Toni Ballinger and her son Rasai Bien Time, 2 listen to Terrance Wilson, Pastor of the COOL (Created Out of Love) Church. They were participating in a Police escorted funeral procession form Hallandale to Miramar Florida to symbolize the killing of George Floyd and others at the hands of police. They were calling for the death of racism and used the protest as an opportunity to register people to vote.

  • Protesters march in Coral Gables Florida on Saturday, May 30,...

    Mike Stocker / South Florida Sun Sentinel

    Protesters march in Coral Gables Florida on Saturday, May 30, 2020. The peaceful group was protesting the recent police killings including George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Eric Garner, Michael Brown, Sandra Bland and others. They were also protesting against: police brutality, systemic racism overt racism, racial oppression, mass incarceration, colorblind racism, and radicalized police.

  • People march through traffic lanes on Glades Road in Boca...

    John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel

    People march through traffic lanes on Glades Road in Boca Raton on Monday, June 1, 2020, to protest the death of George Floyd in police custody in Minneapolis.

  • People march down Glades Road near Town Center Mall in...

    John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel

    People march down Glades Road near Town Center Mall in Boca Raton on Monday, June 1, 2020, to protest the death of George Floyd in police custody in Minneapolis.

  • Protestors march to the Palm Beach County Courthouse in West...

    Amy Beth Bennett/South Florida Sun Sentinel

    Protestors march to the Palm Beach County Courthouse in West Palm Beach on Saturday, June 6, 2020.

  • People march down Glades Road in Boca Raton on Monday,...

    John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel

    People march down Glades Road in Boca Raton on Monday, June 1, 2020, to protest the death of George Floyd in police custody in Minneapolis.

  • Police officers in riot gear clear the streets in downtown...

    Mike Stocker / South Florida Sun Sentinel

    Police officers in riot gear clear the streets in downtown in Miami Florida on Saturday, May 30, 2020 as protests in the wake of the police killing of George Floyd turn violent.

  • A woman shows her support for protesters near Town Center...

    John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel

    A woman shows her support for protesters near Town Center Mall in Boca Raton on Monday, June 1, 2020.

  • Protestors march to the Palm Beach County Courthouse in West...

    Amy Beth Bennett/South Florida Sun Sentinel

    Protestors march to the Palm Beach County Courthouse in West Palm Beach on Saturday.

  • People march in West Palm Beach on Tuesday, June 2,...

    John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel

    People march in West Palm Beach on Tuesday, June 2, 2020, to protest the death of George Floyd by Minneapolis police.

  • People march down Atlantic Avenue in Delray Beach on Wednesday,...

    John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel

    People march down Atlantic Avenue in Delray Beach on Wednesday, June 3, 2020, to protest the death of George Floyd by Minneapolis police.

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    Joe Cavaretta / South Florida Sun Sentinel

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    Joe Cavaretta/AP

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    John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel

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    John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel

    A small group of protesters gather near Town Center Mall in Boca Raton on Monday, June 1, 2020, to protest the death of George Floyd in police custody.

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    Mike Stocker / South Florida Sun Sentinel

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    John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel

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  • Protesters march in West Palm Beach Florida on Friday, June...

    Mike Stocker / South Florida Sun Sentinel

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    John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel

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    Mizner Park protest in Boca Raton on Sunday, June 7, 2020.

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    Mike Stocker / South Florida Sun Sentinel

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    John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel

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  • Boca High students hold up signs during a peaceful protest...

    Jennifer Lett/Sun Sentinel

    Boca High students hold up signs during a peaceful protest at Mizner Park in Boca Raton on June 6, 2020. Jennifer Lett South Florida Sun Sentinel

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  • Marchers chant during a demonstration to memorialize George Floyd at...

    Joe Cavaretta / South Florida Sun Sentinel

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    Amy Beth Bennett/South Florida Sun Sentinel

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    Joe Cavaretta/AP

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    Florida Highway Patrol Capt. Roger Reyes (center) speaks with people protesting the death of George Floyd near the Glades Road I-95 exit in Boca Raton on Monday, June 1, 2020.

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    Amy Beth Bennett / South Florida Sun Sentinel

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    Marchers line Federal Highway during a demonstration to memorialize George Floyd at Mizner Park in Boca Raton, Sunday, June 7, 2020.

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    Amy Beth Bennett/South Florida Sun Sentinel

    Protestors march to the Palm Beach County Courthouse in West Palm Beach on Saturday, June 6, 2020.

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    Amy Beth Bennett/South Florida Sun Sentinel

    Protestors march to the Palm Beach County Courthouse in West Palm Beach on Saturday, June 6, 2020.

  • Boca High student raises a sign during a peaceful protest...

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AuthorAuthorDavid Fleshler, Sun Sentinel reporter.Author
PUBLISHED: | UPDATED:

Thousands of people gathered Saturday across South Florida to protest police brutality, on what may be the biggest national day of demonstrations since the Minneapolis killing that sparked more than a week of unrest.

Protesters sat down on East Broward Boulevard at U.S. 1 in downtown Fort Lauderdale, shutting down traffic late Saturday afternoon. But demonstrations so far remained peaceful, in a series of events that began early in the day.

More than 100 people gathered at 9 a.m. in Boca Raton, holding signs in Mizner Park and along Federal Highway. In Miramar, protesters gathered at the Ansin Sports Complex before embarking on a march through the city. In West Palm Beach, there were demonstrations along Southern Boulevard, the road leading to President Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club.

As Siherrah Noble-Kahn, 18, walked with the group heading toward Mar-a-Lago, said she marched to call attention to the injustices perpetrated by the generation that elected a “bad” president.

“It’s on their conscience,” said Noble-Kahn, a recent graduate of William T. Dwyer High School in Palm Beach Gardens. “Their grandchildren will definitely see them in their history books and wonder, ‘What were they doing?'”

A block away, on the west side of the bridge to Palm Beach, Boynton Beach retiree Bob Thomas held an American flag and a Thin Blue Line flag, a banner that symbolizes support for police.

“I am here to give the police a voice,” he said. “They’ve been beaten down the past few weeks. I just want to be here in support them.”

A young, racially mixed crowd of more than 200 gathered outside the federal courthouse in downtown Fort Lauderdale, a traditional spot for demonstrations. Honks from passing drivers buoyed the crowd into louder chants and cheers.

“Honk for Justice/Peace,” urged one sign.

“White silence = violence,” another said.

The South Florida events took place on a national day of protests 12 days after George Floyd’s death at the hands of Minneapolis police officers. Themes of the demonstrations have broadened from Floyd’s killing to institutional racism, the violent police response to several demonstrations and President Trump’s aggressive, militarized tactics against protesters in Washington.

Signs in Boca Raton included the names of people who have died in police custody across the country.
Signs in Boca Raton included the names of people who have died in police custody across the country.

“They’re not new problems,” said Louis Garcia, 31, of Plantation, as he marched with the group in Fort Lauderdale. “It’s not just a police issue. It’s a racial issue. It’s a nation issue.”

Thousands of protesters on Saturday poured into the area around the White House, where newly installed fences kept protesters away and the police presence had greatly diminished from the past few days, according to The Washington Post.

Under gray skies Saturday afternoon in downtown West Palm Beach, a peaceful procession of about 200 chanting marchers moved from Rosemary Square to the Palm Beach County Courthouse. A second group of several hundred marched from Dreher Park to Southern Boulevard, reaching a detour at the Southern Boulevard Bridge, where two dozen deputies from the Palm Beach Sheriff’s Office guided them north.

On the steps of the Palm Beach County Courthouse, speakers spent about 90 minutes calling for reform and unity, addressing a multiracial crowd that included many parents with young children.

At one point many members of the crowd lay face down on the pavement with their hands entwined behind their backs, staying there for 8:46 minutes, the time Floyd had a police officer’s knee on his neck. Speakers recited George Floyd’s final words: “Please, I can’t breathe.” “Everything hurts.” “They’re going to kill me.” “I can’t move … Mama … Mama … I can’t.”

Wenfred Dorsey, a Black Palm Beach County resident, brought his twin 9-year-old daughters.

“They need to witness this,” Dorsey said. “They need to know that this is part of history, unfortunately, and they need to know what’s going on in our community and be a part of positive change. They need to be close enough to it to where they can touch it, smell it, eat it and talk about it.”

In Fort Lauderdale, a few blocks from the courthouse protest, a separate group gathered at Huizenga Plaza and marched to East Broward Boulevard. Both groups — totaling at least 300 — took to the road chanting “no justice, no peace” and “black lives matter.”

Although there was a heavy presence of police, with officers on bicycles and in patrol cars, they stayed a block behind the marchers and did not engage with them. They closed roads to traffic while marchers passed through.

The protest moved along East Broward Boulevard, the spine of the downtown, with the parade of protesters stretching about a city block. Though the world has been gripped with fear of coronavirus, there was no effort at social distancing. The crowd was thick, with only a small percentage wearing masks.

One marcher, Natasha Harrison, a lawyer who has represented arrested activists pro bono, said she hopes the protests go on “indefinitely” because that’s what’s been needed in other countries that successfully fought oppression.

“We want to effect lasting change,” she said. “We have to be persistent and not let up.”

The Boca event was the first Black Lives Matter event that Boca resident Vaughn Crichlow had attended, and he credited his 15-year-old daughter Arielle for getting him involved.

“The social conscience she’s developed and the desire to do something and take a stand really inspired me,” he said.

A lone patrol car occasionally cruised past the crowd in Boca Raton without stopping.

“People aren’t doing enough and more voices need to be heard,” Arielle Crichlow said. “That’s why I’m so happy to see the amount of people that showed up here today from different backgrounds and different age groups, and they’re all supporting the cause.”

The multiracial crowd waved signs at honking motorists that read “Black Lives Matter” and listed the names of some of those who have died in police custody.

Saturday evening, with most of the protesters gone, an impromptu gathering at the corner of Clematis and Rosemary in West Palm Beach was brought to a halt when a black West Palm Beach police officer took a knee in front of the crowd.

The move produced audible elation. One of the more vocal protesters at the front yelled, “Thank you, sir!”

Officer Darien Thomas, a three-year veteran of the force, pointed to his heart when asked to explain his act.

“This uniform is not a representation of us not standing for Black Lives Matter,” he said. “We’re all human. We all are here. We all do this job because we want to help the community. Hopefully that shows us, especially the West Palm Beach Police Department, we stand with the community.”

In Miami protesters marched from Bayfront Park to the Miami-Dade Courthouse, in a peaceful event described as a prayer march, according to the Miami Herald. Another group protested outside the president’s Trump National Doral Miami golf resort.

A demonstration near Florida International University ended with arrests Saturday night, according to Herald.

At the end of a peaceful demonstration, with a few dozen protesters left on Southwest Eighth Street, Miami-Dade Police in riot gear lined up and marched down the street. An officer with a loudspeaker declared the event an “unlawful gathering” and gave them five minutes to leave, according to the Herald.

Officers moved forward, used their shields to slam a man against a wall and arrested two men and two women, the paper reported.

Police tweeted traffic alerts in Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton, Miramar and elsewhere during demonstrations.

In Wellington, over 100 demonstrated at Forest Hill Boulevard and U.S. 441. They waved signs and wore T-shirts that read “I Can’t Breathe,” words uttered by Floyd before he died.

Two Palm Beach County sheriff’s deputies walked up to the crowd and struck up a conversation with a few demonstrators before walking away minutes later.

Kyla Edme, of Wellington, didn’t need Floyd’s death to motivate her participation. She said she and her husband have been pulled over by police for “driving while black.”

Protestors march to the Palm Beach County Courthouse in West Palm Beach on Saturday.
Protestors march to the Palm Beach County Courthouse in West Palm Beach on Saturday.

“I’m fighting for my son, for my husband, for my father, for my daughter,” she said. “It’s been so heart-warming to see how much support there is here.”

David Fleshler can be reached at dfleshler@sun-sentinel.com or 954-356-4535.