BOSTON — Thousands of mostly mask-wearing demonstrators marched peacefully through Boston in several protests during the day, lending their voices to the nationwide anger over the death of George Floyd, a black man who died Monday after a white Minneapolis police officer pressed his knee on his neck as he pleaded for air.
Hundreds of protesters took to the streets Sunday to march four miles from Nubian Square in Roxbury to the State House in Beacon Hill. Sky 25 captured this footage of the massive crowd that had gathered during the protest. #boston25 #bostonprotests #GeorgeFloydprotests #boston pic.twitter.com/mXTSJZZval
— Boston 25 News (@boston25) June 1, 2020
The largest protest of several thousand started Sunday night in the historically black neighborhood of Roxbury. Protesters carrying “Black Lives Matter” signs and chanting “The people united will never be defeated” made their way slowly for several miles to the Massachusetts State House. The diverse crowd was flanked by police officers on bikes and were peaceful.
>> Photos: Hundreds gather in Boston to protest George Floyd’s death
But as the march ended around 9 p.m., protesters clashed with police in downtown Boston. At least two police cruisers were heavily damaged — including one whose rear window was smashed by a skateboarder. Police also tweeted that their officers were pelted with bricks, rocks, and glass bottles. Protesters stole items from several stores including a Walgreens and a shoe store and damaged other several storefronts including a bank. They also lit about 10 trash bins on fire in a large park known as the Common.
A National Guard unit was called in to help quell the violence around 11 p.m.
As of 3 a.m. Monday, seven police officers had been hospitalized, 21 police cruisers were damaged and around 40 people were arrested, the Boston Police Department tweeted, calling the situation active.
Looters hit the Saks Fifth Avenue located in Boston's Back Bay Sunday night hours after a protest on the Boston Common turned violent, prompting a heavy response from local police and the National Guard. #boston #boston25 #bostonprotests pic.twitter.com/kGR3LIwyxA
— Boston 25 News (@boston25) June 1, 2020
Looting taking place on Tremont St - windows smashed in at a convenience store. Man across the street says this has been happening on the street for 2 hours now @boston25 pic.twitter.com/UedV5SGrCq
— Kirsten Glavin (@kirstenglavin) June 1, 2020
Tensions rising in #Boston. Here's a look from our crew on Beacon Street. Police are urging peaceful protesters to go home as officers are working to restore order and keep the peace.
— Boston 25 News (@boston25) June 1, 2020
Watch live coverage here --> https://t.co/6SFh7iHkbA pic.twitter.com/pr6zyctNVl
Fights, incidents of vandalism & objects thrown at officers & moving cars continuing at this hour in downtown Boston. Majority of protestors have left area but some refusing to leave #Boston25 #BostonProtests #GeorgeFloydProtests pic.twitter.com/QIFLChKLgN
— Drew Karedes (@DrewKaredes) June 1, 2020
“Tonight’s protests were motivated by a righteous desire for equality, justice, and accountability in our country. I see you. I hear you. I will use my voice for you,” Boston Mayor Marty Walsh said in a statement.
“I am angered, however, by the people who came into our city and chose to engage in acts of destruction and violence, undermining their message,” he said. “If we are to achieve change and if we are to lead the change, our efforts must be rooted in peace and regard for our community.”
I am angered, however, by the people who came into our city and chose to engage in acts of destruction and violence, undermining their message. If we are to achieve change and if we are to lead the change, our efforts must be rooted in peace and regard for our community.
— Mayor Marty Walsh (@marty_walsh) June 1, 2020
Earlier in the day, hundreds of people, including several families, marched through downtown Boston on Sunday carrying signs reading “Justice for George” and “Silence is betrayal,” among others, and chanting “Hands up, don’t shoot.” Orderly but energized and angry at times, the crowd took over one side of a city street as they passed City Hall, the State House, and the Public Garden.
Some passing motorists honked in support, and in one case, several bikers revved their motorcycles, prompting cheers from the crowd. The demonstration then gathered in Boston Common, an iconic park in the heart of Boston, with some kneeling for several minutes in memory of Floyd and raising their fists in the air.
Boston 25 News reporter @DrewKaredes captured this powerful moment in #Boston on Sunday when those protesting the death of #GeorgeFloyd held an eight-minute-long moment of silence in Floyd's honor. #boston25 #GeorgeFloydprotests #bostonprotests
— Boston 25 News (@boston25) May 31, 2020
STORY: https://t.co/Fvt73dtUCO pic.twitter.com/ma6phUrNTL
Hundreds now rallying in Boston Common, chanting #GeorgeFloyd. Lots of #BlacklivesMatter signs in the crowd. This crowd has stayed peaceful as they head to the state house @boston25 #BLM pic.twitter.com/kr7QZ3oYtV
— Litsa Pappas (@LitsaPappas) May 31, 2020
The earlier peaceful nature of the protests was in stark contrast to violence that has rocked cities across the country in recent days in response to the death of Floyd.
People robbed stores Sunday in broad daylight in Philadelphia and Santa Monica, California, and a semitruck drove into a massive crowd of people that took over a portion of a highway in Minneapolis.
“They keep killing our people. I’m so sick and tired of it," said Mahira Louis, 15, who was at the afternoon protest with her mother and was leading chants of “George Floyd, say his name." “On the news, every time we say black lives matter they keep silencing us. Things are going to change. It's going to change around here. They’re not going to kill black people for no reason."
Others said the killing of Floyd on top of the coronavirus that has disproportionately hit communities of color and resulted in job losses made it imperative they come out and protest.
“The recent events between COVID, the killing of George Floyd, the injustices this society is sort of predicated on are just surfacing in a very undeniable way,” said Silvian Castaneda, a 62-year-old social worker from Medford who came to the rally with several family members and friends. “We've got to do something.”
The safety concerns of the coronavirus were also on the minds of protesters, many who wore masks but rarely practiced social distancing. They were packed shoulder to shoulder as they marched which had several of them a little anxious.
“It isn't comfortable to be at home but it's really uncomfortable to be here, too, and know you're doing this in the face of the COVID-19 crisis,” said Vivian Lee, 22, who participated with her sister and parents. “But it requires some discomfort for change.”
A third protest featured church leaders who rallied outside Boston police headquarters, according to The Boston Globe. After speaking out against police brutality as well as income inequality and lack of coronavirus testing, the crowd observed a moment of silence for 8 minutes and 49 seconds, a reference to the several minutes the officer pressed his knee to Floyd’s neck.
Related: PHOTOS: Protests escalate across America
The Associated Press contributed to this story
This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.
Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for alerts on breaking news stories like this one.