LYNCHBURG, Va. – UPDATE 6:00 P.M.
A peaceful Black Lives Matter protest ended around 5 p.m. in Lynchburg’s Miller Park on Saturday.
At 6 p.m., 10 News crews at the protests reported there was still a sizable group in Miller Park, signs and all, though for the most part, the event was over.
It was a peaceful protest with loud and passionate moments as organizers called the community to action, and as many still tried to comprehend the murder of George Floyd at the hands of police officers.
Hundreds of people crowded into the park to listen to the concerns, while sharing their own messages of hope and resistance.
The message eventually moved to the street, where demonstrators lined both sides of Park Avenue.
One Lynchburg resident said even though George Floyd’s murder wasn’t local, it’s important to act locally to create change.
“We might not have cops standing on people’s necks here, but we have a lot of things we can grow and change from. In Lynchburg, we’re going to have it. We’re going to make sure our kids have a better tomorrow than we have today," said Tyesha Harris, who lives in Lynchburg.
Before they moved out to the street, protesters all took a knee for 8 minutes, 46 seconds: the amount of time George Floyd spent with an officer’s knee on his neck before he died.
Organizers said Saturday’s event was not just about Floyd, however, but about taking their anger, hurt and frustration to the polls. There was voter registration booth set up at the event.
UPDATE 4:45 P.M.
Protesters continue to demonstrate near Miller Park in Lynchburg on Saturday. Park Avenue is shut down for the safety of the protesters.
ALERT: Please use caution when traveling through the Miller Park/Midtown area. We are currently escorting peaceful protesters through the area for their safety.
— Lynchburg Police (@LynchburgPolice) June 6, 2020
UPDATE 4 P.M.
The group gathered at the peaceful Black Lives Matter protest in Miller Park in Lynchburg is moving to the sidewalk to continue to demonstrate with signs and chants.
ORIGINAL STORY
A peaceful, Black Lives Matter protest is happening on Saturday in Lynchburg.
The group met in Miller Park starting around 3 p.m.
Organizers said it’s a peaceful event and kids are welcome to attend.
Saturday’s event comes after Lynchburg’s city manager lifted a mandatory curfew after three nights of peaceful protest.
[Lynchburg city, protest leaders call for peaceful gatherings this weekend]
The curfew was put in place because protests on Sunday and Monday nights turned violent and resulted in several arrests, shots fired calls, damage to businesses and tear gas used on protesters.