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Protesters on Monday (From WDIV video)
Racial justice protesters on Monday were on Detroit streets for a fourth day to rally against injustice after the Memorial Day death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
But unlike the other days, it ended peacefully when marchers dispersed at Michigan and Third Avenue, near police headquarters. The night before, after an 8 p.m. curfew, some threw objects at police, who responded with tear gas and arrests.
On Monday, some participants stayed after curfew, according to WDIV. But the outcome was far better, with organizers urging people to go home.
“Go home, be safe,” a protester chanted after 8:30 p.m. “It’s over. Go to your cars. Be safe.”
Detroit police held their position on Michigan Avenue at 8:39 p.m., Jason Colthorp of WDIV reports. "Police did arrest several people on Woodward near Grand River," he tweets.
As of 8:55 p.m., it appeared as though the protest had ended peacefully. The Detroit Free Press reported there were some curfew violation arrests.
Stefan Perez: "My people are still alive." (Photo: Fox 2)
“We made our impact today, we made our statement," Perez said. "But at the same time, my people are still alive. That’s all I care about.”Stefan Perez, a 16-year-old Southwest Detroiter, helped keep calm, the Freep reports. He stood with a megaphone between protesters and police on Michigan Avenue, urging a peaceful end to Monday's march.
Mayor Mike Duggan called him later. "You are everything that’s special about the city of Detroit," Duggan said on the call, which was captured on a Free Press livestream. "I just thought your whole protest was a phenomenal national message. We're gonna fight this injustice because of people like you."
The city's nine-hour curfew stays in effect through this week, the mayor says.
In Troy, protesters briefly blocked Big Beaver Road at Coolidge Highway outside Somerset Collection in Troy. At one point, two officer knelt in solidarity.
