Thousands descended on Hollywood on Tuesday, June 2, in a massive, nonviolent march that that found its way rapidly through city blocks, stopping traffic around the town and focusing the outrage that has blanketed the nation.
And still, despite moments of tension, there were no major issues by afternoon in a march that seemed to be going out of its way to be peaceful after days and nights of widespread looting and vandalism.
By shortly before noon, demonstrators carrying signs of protest — “All Lives Matter,” “I Can’t Breathe!” “No Justice No Peace” — marched, joining what has been a demand for justice in the wake of the death of George Floyd, a 46-year-old black man who died after being arrested by a Minneapolis police officer last week. A cellphone video that went vital showed that officer, Derek Chaivin, pressing his knee against Floyd’s neck, not releasing it until it was too late.
The march spread out through Hollywood, ballooning to 10,000 people, according to LAPD estimates. It broke up at points, with at least three groups fanning out on local streets, passing by Hollywood landmarks, guarded by troops, police and deputies.
The march’s enormity was stunning — at one point, extending along Sunset Boulevard, easily longer than eight city blocks.
Early on, at Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street, demonstrators brought traffic to halt, kneeling in the intersection, fists in the air — as police helicopters flew overhead and police in riot gear lined up nearby. Later on, demonstrators sat Indian-style in silent protests, just yards away from National Guard troops.
Traffic is stopped all ways now here on Hollywood and Vine. Cars honk in approval. @ladailynews pic.twitter.com/375p5gJ0CI
— pierce singgih (@piercesinggih) June 2, 2020
The giant show of civil discontent was loud at times, even angry, but peaceful, stopping at points, where protesters stood 20 feet from police, yelling Floyd’s last words, “I Can’t Breathe!” and other chants, such as “Don’t Shoot.”
There were scenes that echoed face-offs in recent days, where demonstrators engaged National Guard troops and police, sometimes asking, even trying to negotiate with them, to kneel with them. On Tuesday, no one seemed to budge. And then, the protesters moved on rapidly.
Along the marches, deputies were seen guarding high-profile spaces in the Hollywood, such as Dolby Theatre.
Shortly before 3 p.m. — three hours before a countywide curfew was set to go into effect — police descended on an intersection near Hollywood and Vine, where overhead images from KABC-TV captured police detaining two people from a parked truck. Tensions were high at Hollywood and Vine, where some protesters were yelling in the faces of LAPD officers. But the moment passed without violence. And as the crowd moved forward, organizers negotiated with police to accommodate the march, avoiding any major issues.
LAPD just let protesters march back down Vine from Hollywood. A lot of cooperation here between officers and demonstrators. Some protesters here tell me they’re trying to keep it as peaceful as possible. @ladailynews pic.twitter.com/eirz5pzWVY
— pierce singgih (@piercesinggih) June 2, 2020
Amid the outrage, some were trying to keep the peace, including Jerrod Paige, who was pleased with protesters’ efforts to remain calm and give officers space.
“There’s so much anger. These officers are people just like us,” Paige, 43 said. “There’s a lot of tensions, but love conquers all.”
Paige, of Hollywood, called himself an activist and says peace is the only way to get the message across.
“We need people to empathize with us,” he said. “It’s good to see people being peaceful on both sides.”
Shortly after Paige helped calm the tempers of the crowd, LAPD officers allowed protesters to march back down Vine Street from Hollywood Boulevard.
As officers were letting protesters through, Paige and others made sure the crowd wasn’t rushing too quickly after the officers.
“I’m an activist, but I’ve had enough, and I wanted to start bringing peace,” he added.
Throughout the Hollywood protest, some wore red duct-tape crosses on their shirts. They were organized by resident Hassan Galedary, who said they were offering basic first aid to any protesters — or police officers — who may need it.
They weren’t EMTs, just a few folks with basic medical training.
“We just love our city,” Galedary said. “This is also a peaceful, chill platform for members of the community to contribute to the movement without being too far on one side or the other. Like, for me, I need this. Otherwise I could be the bad guy, you know. And I don’t want to be the bad guy.”
Beyond first aid, Galedary said they were also watching damage “so that we can send cleanup crews in the morning.”
Galedary had been at protests in previous days at Fairfax and Downtown L.A.; he also said he came back the next day to help clean up the mess.
There were reports of minor looting in isolated areas surrounding the march. But it was nothing like late in the day Monday, when a massive protest devolved into looting after the 6 p.m. curfew and many were arrested.
This crowd is so, so big. pic.twitter.com/vrjBd0gg5A
— Bradley Bermont (@bradleybermont) June 2, 2020
#GeorgeFloydProtests now blocking traffic at intersection of #Vine & #Hollywood Blvd in #Hollywood Tuesday pic.twitter.com/vlIP6wJ1Qu
— David Crane (@vidcrane) June 2, 2020
NBC News reported that the Hollywood Division alone made a single-day record 585 arrests Monday night, including 20 for looting, and impounded 50 vehicles. The rest of the arrests were largely for curfew violations.
On Tuesday, however, protesters — who began much earlier than Monday — were setting themselves apart from the looting and the vandalism that has hit the region for several days in places like the Fairfax District, Van Nuys and Santa Monica.
“We’re marching for peace,” said Darius Devime, 25. “This is injustice. So many of us have died. We’re marching for the end of that. We want to be treated as equals. To feel safe, the people protecting us have to treat us like humans.”“The looting has nothing to do with us,” the Hollywood resident said. “Those are opportunists.”
“The violence isn’t what it’s about,” said Martin Jenkins, 25, of Hollywood. “It’s supposed to be about peace, not self-gain.”
Protesters are now kneeling in the middle of the street on Hollywood and Vine with fists up, chanting “George Floyd.” @ladailynews pic.twitter.com/WHZKWKaj58
— pierce singgih (@piercesinggih) June 2, 2020
Photographer David Crane and City News Service contributed to this story.
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