Police ordered the crowed to disperse several times and while protesters did move onto the sidewalk many did not leave.
The tension dissipated when the tactical vehicle abruptly left, along with police officers on bicycles and in cars. Officers from multiple jurisdictions were on hand.
Credit: Lynn Hulsey/Staff
Credit: Lynn Hulsey/Staff
The crowd, which swelled to at least 500 people between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. was down to about 100 people by 7:45 p.m.
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Organizer Fayhe Watson said the plan was to stand along Old Troy Pike near the I-70 interchange, hold up signs and chant peacefully. About 500 people participated in the rally. There were no speakers and protesters did not march.
ÂťPHOTOS: George Floyd protests continue in Miami Valley
The Dayton NAACP registered people to vote throughout the evening.
The crowd of #antiracism #protesters is growing in Huber Heights and some have moved into the busy street. https://t.co/nLCubPKNOi pic.twitter.com/8XkfTzjiES
— Lynn Hulsey (@LynnHulseyDDN) June 6, 2020
The crowd chanted âNo Justice, No Peaceâ and âThis is what democracy looks likeâ as passing cars honked their horns in support.
ÂťSPEAK UP: âCourageous Conversationâ on black community, police relations in Dayton set
âFor all the victims and families whoâve been involved in police brutality, and all of the people who have been killed, we're just trying to show them that we stand with them, we support them and we're trying to show that our community is better,â Watson said.
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âMy family is African American and I shouldn't have to be worried about my family leaving their house. I shouldn't have to worry about one day my family's gonna get shot because they're black, you know what I mean? So weâre just gonna show everyone that we're together and bring awareness.â
About 500 #demonstrators are protesting against police brutality and racism in Huber Heights right now. #Voterregistration is going on as well. https://t.co/lsvlfPu110 pic.twitter.com/jHVQMbCpNr
— Lynn Hulsey (@LynnHulseyDDN) June 6, 2020
The large crowd took a knee with their fists in the air and were silent for nine minutes in remembrance of Floyd, who died in police custody in Minneapolis on Memorial Day.
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Betina Brown, 46, of Cincinnati, said, âHopefully what we are going to get from this is a dialogue, just starting a conversation can hopefully make something better.â
Charlie Shivers of Riverside came to the protest with his wife Jessica and daughter Anastasia.
âIâm here to protest racial injustice as well as police brutality. Iâm here to just support everyone else who is here who wants a better future,â Charlie Shivers said.
âIâm here because all human beings are human beings and this has to stop,â said Mallory Yount, 24, of Dayton.
Eileen Alford, 42 of Huber Heights said, âWhat I hope to accomplish here is the destruction of the police department and equal rights for all black Americans.â
Protests also took place today in Dayton, Trotwood, Miami Twp., Miamisburg, Xenia, Yellow Springs and Springfield.
An armed demonstration that was planned for downtown Dayton today has been canceled.
RELATED: Local leaders call for weekend protests to be loud, peaceful
Nationwide protests â some peaceful, some violent â have taken place after police killed George Floyd in Minneapolis on May 25. Officer Derek Chauvin, who kneeled on Floydâs neck for nearly nine minutes, faces second-degree murder and other charges, while the other three officers present face charges of aiding and abetting murder.
RELATED: Demonstrators gather in Yellow Springs to protest death of George Floyd
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