Hundreds march through downtown Tacoma to protest the killing of George Floyd
Update, 11:28 p.m.: WSDOT is reporting that I-705 and ramps to I-5 from the downtown area are now clear of the police activity associated with today’s march.
Update, 10:24 p.m.: Hearing reports that people from the George Floyd protest are trying to walk onto I-705 at 13th Street.
Here’s the latest from TNT photojournalist Joshua Bessex:
Update, 10:09 p.m.: A group of people approached police blocking the SR 509 bridge, aka the Cable Bridge, and exchanged words with officers.
Group then moved on and returned onto Pac Ave.
Update, 9:15 p.m.: Photojournalist Joshua Bessex reports a group of about 200 people remains in downtown, walking up and down Pacific Avenue and chanting. A car drove through the crowd minutes ago. It didn’t appear that anyone was hit, but people in the street were angered.
Police are watching the demonstration but not intervening at this time.
State troopers had access to eastbound SR 509 over the cable bridge blocked about 9 p.m. That appeared to be a move to prevent people from the demonstration from trying to cross the bridge.
Update, 8:27 p.m.: Tacoma Mayor Victoria Woodards issued a statement regarding the Tacoma march.
Here it is in its entirety:
“As news of the tragic and unacceptable death of George Floyd in Minneapolis continues to send traumatic shockwaves across our nation, Tacoma grieves with his family and all those who grieve.
I am humbled and grateful to serve as Mayor of a city unafraid to speak truth to power and stand toe-to-toe against injustice. Today, our community has staged demonstrations in the cold, unrelenting rain to peacefully call out wrongdoing and demand transparency, accountability and, ultimately, systemic change.
Peaceful demonstrations are not only understandable, they are necessary in times like these, and I know that more are planned in the weeks to come. Tacoma’s ability to unify and collectively drive progress is the bedrock of our strength as a city. I encourage our community to continue to come together, engage in open and honest dialogue, peacefully call out for what is just, and support one another throughout this trying time.”
Previous post: Hundreds of people turned out in downtown Tacoma on Saturday to protest the death of George Floyd and other people of color at the hands of police.
The demonstration began about 6 p.m. at Don Pugnetti Park at Pacific Avenue and South 21st Street. People of all races and ages gathered despite a driving rain and the ongoing threat of the coronavirus. Most people wore masks, and organizers dispensed hand sanitizer.
At the park, speakers lamented the death of Floyd, a black man who died while handcuffed May 25 in Minneapolis as a white police officer knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes.
They also mourned the loss of people killed by police in Pierce County, and some called on white Americans to step up to defend the lives and rights of African Americans and other minorities.
About 6:30 p.m., the crowd headed north on Pacific Avenue. Many people carried signs: “Black Lives Matter,” “Don’t kill my sons” and “I can’t breath,” a reference to the last words Floyd spoke before he died.
Chants of “no justice, no peace, no racist police” and “hands up, don’t shoot” issued from marchers, who kept to the sidewalk as instructed by organizers.
Tacoma police officers blocked some intersections to minimize traffic on Pacific, and a cadre of officers on bicycles shadowed the demonstration as it made its way several blocks before crossing the street and heading back to the park.
There were no immediate reports of property damage or arrests.
This story was originally published May 30, 2020 at 8:13 PM.
