The demonstration against police abuse that ended in riots, a curfew and the call to the National Guard to avoid further protests.
'I can't breathe' was one of the screams that was heard for several hours throughout the Fairfax district, on Saturday at noon, when thousands of Angelenos took to the streets to protest the death of George Floyd, the African American who lost Life after a Minneapolis police officer held his knee with the full weight of his body on his neck for almost nine minutes, including 2 minutes 43 seconds without the body of the 46-year-old responding.
That scene that was captured by a video and went around the world on social networks, is precisely what the thousands of participants, of all colors and ages, came out to protest. Most of them were young people, between 20 and 30 years old; however, there were also quite a few angelenos with white hair who joined the cry: "I can't breath."
"I can't breathe," were possibly the last words that Floyd spoke during his arrest and the last moment of his life on May 25. That is why now, not only were African-American youth outraged, Latinos also seemed furious, as were Asians and whites themselves, many of whom carried a sign saying, "Let's end the white silence."
The meeting was agreed for 12 p.m. at Pan Pacific Park, on Beverly Boulevard in the Fairfax District, a affluent neighborhood in West Los Angeles. After almost an average of listening to some participants asking for justice and wondering "until when the police abuse would end", the stage was small for people who did not stop arriving. At that time the organizers decided to take the streets on the Third (W. 3rd St.) towards the Beverly Center.
At about one o'clock in the afternoon, Third Street had become a river of people, with people carrying signs saying: "How many more innocent lives", "Stop killing us", "Let's end racism", "Do the right thing, reform the LAPD "," White silence is violence "," Justice for George, Ahmaud and Breonna "," Stop killing people "," It is enough ", and" If there is no justice there will be no peace ", between others.
Along the way, chants reminiscent of how Floyd died: 'I can't breath', were a constant, as many people from the neighborhood came to the corner of Third Street to clap, honk their horns, or provide water for protesters. Even many of the drivers caught in the river of people that flooded the street seemed happy and clapped or raised their fists inside their vehicle as a symbol of complicity and acceptance.
Arriving at Cienega Avenue, the protesters stopped for a while and turned right to Beverly Boulevard, but at that time the police did not let them go very far, forcing them to return by the same route, although many followed by La Cienega and others returned down Third Street, but when they reached Edinburgh Street the police were waiting for them once again, although this time it was a bar of uniforms with macana in hand ready to disperse people, if necessary .
On this occasion, the protesters decided to stand up and did not move, they put up a fence similar to the police and, straight ahead and without hesitation, shouted 'murderous policemen', 'stop killing people', 'the lives of blacks matter ', etc., while the moment of tension increased because little by little, the protesters approached the police officers to the point of being face to face.
At that time, any mistake by the protesters would have ended in zafarancho, although suddenly police reinforcements with rubber bullet pistols arrived on Edinburgh Street, where there was a confrontation, an arrest, and some beaten women. Four helicopters were flying over the area since in other parts of the neighborhood an MTA bus had been vandalized and at least three patrols were burned.
It was already around 4:30 p.m. And neither the protesters nor the police took a step back, although the tension grew as suddenly groups of people ran from one side to the other, to the announcement that the police were arresting people in the alley. Suddenly characters appeared who threw bottles full of water at the police or some who, far from being protesters, looked suspicious, for some reason they hinted that they were looking for the confrontation at the cost of anything, but even one of the organizers asked the group that kneels down and please don't throw artifacts at the police.
Around 5 pm, the screams of “Don't shoot” and “I can't breath” continued, as we decided to return, however, as we left the scene and went through Beverly Avenue and Fairfax Avenue, two patrols They had already been burned, while some protesters celebrated as a symbol of triumph and revenge for the large number of people, mostly African-Americans, who have been victimized by the police at the national level.
At the end of the day, there were riots, dozens of businesses vandalized, and others ended in ashes. Some people took advantage of the moment and went into warehouses and stores to take merchandise. The disturbances reached such a degree that the mayor of Los Angeles asked for the help of the National Guard, which was expected to arrive at midnight; while announcing a curfew until 5 a.m. Sunday. Moments later, the Governor of California declared the city of Los Angeles a state of emergency.
In the evening, a young African American woman was interviewed by channel 7 ABC and summed up the protest.
"The message I want to send is that there is a big difference in the United States. among white and African American Americans. Blacks are treated very differently. And while I don't want whites to experience what African-Americans experience when it comes to dealing with the police, I do want the police to come to terms with us and give us protection for white Americans. We need the same protection for Latinos. We want to be treated as people, "said the young woman who identified herself as Jane Do.
This demonstration that happened on Saturday, was the continuation of a series of protests that have been taking place nationwide since Wednesday in more than two dozen cities in the United States. On Friday in Los Angeles, more than 500 people had been arrested; while on Saturday the number of detainees rose to 400.
