A protester hugs an officer from the Salem Police Department during the March for Floyd on Saturday, June 6. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
Protesters thronged the mall in front of the Capitol Saturday during one of the largest demonstrations ever seen in Salem.
They numbered in the thousands – there was no easy way to get a fair count. They came with signs, with speeches, and with emotions.
They were there because of a death on Memorial Day in Minneapolis – George Floyd, 46. Four police officers there have been charged in connection with his murder. That death, taped by bystanders in video shared around the world, has triggered protests in every U.S. city and every city in Oregon.
On Saturday, the March for Floyd proved peaceful. Police officers mingled with the protesters, sharing hugs and in some instances kneeling together.
Photographers Amanda Loman and Ron Cooper of Salem Reporter chronicled the remarkable day in Salem. – Les Zaitz
Juan Trevino of the #walkwithus movement speaks during the March for Floyd on Saturday, June 6. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
Protesters walk up the mall to the Capitol after marching through downtown Salem on Saturday, June 6, as part of a Black Lives Matter demonstration. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
Officers, including Officer Robert Dowd (center), from the Salem Police Department kneel alongside protestors during the March for Floyd on Saturday, June 6. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
Officers, including Officer Nathan Bennett (right) from the Salem Police Department pass out bottles of water to protesters during the March for Floyd on Saturday, June 6. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
Dancers perform during the March for Floyd proceedings at the Capitol on Saturday, June 6. (Amanda Loman./Salem Reporter)
Marion County Sheriff Joe Kast spoke briefly during the March for Floyd on Saturday, June 6. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
Members of the Sikh Seva Foundation distributed free meals to protesters during the March for Floyd on Saturday, June 6. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
Adrien Lockhart passes out water bottles to protesters after speaking at the March for Floyd on Saturday, June 6, at the Capitol. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
Protesters by the thousands gathered at the Capitol for the March for Floyd on Saturday, June 6. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
Jerry Moore, Salem police chief, addresses protesters at the March for Floyd proceedings at the Capitol on Saturday, June 6. Moore was among the first speakers for an event that stretched on for hours. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
Melanie Trevino of Salem listens to speakers during the March for Floyd on Saturday, June 6. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
Benny Williams, president of the Salem-Keizer NAACP, speaks during the March for Floyd on Saturday, June 6, at the Capitol. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
Protesters raise their fists in solidarity during the March for Floyd event at the Capitol on Saturday, June 6. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
Gregg Simpson, march organizer, addresses protesters during the March for Floyd on Saturday, June 6, at the Capitol. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
Rickiesha Hinchen of Vancouver, Washington, cheers during the March for Floyd on Saturday, June 6. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
Protesters by the thousands took part in the March for Floyd on Saturday, June 6. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
R.J. Hampton speaks from atop a sculpture during the March for Floyd on Saturday, June 6. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
Dancers perform during the March for Floyd proceedings at the Capitol on Saturday, June 6. (Amanda Loman./Salem Reporter)
Salem Police Chief Jerry Moore (center) and Deputy Police Chief George Burke watch the proceedings at the March for Floyd on Saturday, June 6, at the Capitol.(Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
Shea Weiner and Miranda Fredinburg, both of Salem, hold their fists up during the March for Floyd on Saturday, June 6. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
Protesters give hugs to offices from the Salem Police Department during the March for Floyd on Saturday, June 6. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
Protesters by the thousands paraded through downtown Salem in the March for Floyd on Saturday, June 6. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
Protesters by the thousands paraded through downtown Salem in the March for Floyd on Saturday, June 6. (Ron Cooper/Salem Reporter)
Protesters by the thousands paraded through downtown Salem in the March for Floyd on Saturday, June 6. (Ron Cooper/Salem Reporter)
Protesters by the thousands paraded through downtown Salem in the March for Floyd on Saturday, June 6. (Ron Cooper/Salem Reporter)
Protesters by the thousands paraded through downtown Salem in the March for Floyd on Saturday, June 6. (Ron Cooper/Salem Reporter)
Protesters by the thousands paraded through downtown Salem in the March for Floyd on Saturday, June 6. (Ron Cooper/Salem Reporter)
Salem police officer Kevin Ramirez joins marchers in the March for Floyd event on Saturday, June 6. (Ron Cooper/Salem Reporter)
Protesters by the thousands paraded through downtown Salem in the March for Floyd on Saturday, June 6. (Ron Cooper/Salem Reporter)
Gregg Simpson, march organizer, leads protesters in taking a knee during the March for Floyd on Saturday, June 6. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
Protesters by the thousands paraded through downtown Salem in the March for Floyd on Saturday, June 6. (Ron Cooper/Salem Reporter)
Thousands of people took to Salem’s downtown streets Saturday in remembrance of George Floyd, who was killed by a Minneapolis police officer who knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes. (Ron Cooper/Salem Reporter)
Thousands of people marched to protest police brutality in Salem Saturday, June 6. Sgt. Jon Hardy of the Salem Police Department precedes the march. (Ron Cooper/Salem Reporter)
Protesters by the thousands paraded through downtown Salem in the March for Floyd on Saturday, June 6. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
Protesters by the thousands paraded through downtown Salem in the March for Floyd on Saturday, June 6. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
Thousands of people took to Salem’s downtown streets Saturday in remembrance of George Floyd, who was killed by a Minneapolis police officer who knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes. (Ron Cooper/Special to Salem Reporter)
Protesters by the thousands paraded through downtown Salem in the March for Floyd on Saturday, June 6. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
Protesters by the thousands paraded through downtown Salem in the March for Floyd on Saturday, June 6. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
Protesters by the thousands paraded through downtown Salem in the March for Floyd on Saturday, June 6. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
Protesters by the thousands gathered at the Capitol for the March for Floyd on Saturday, June 6. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
Protesters confront an Oregon State Police trooper during the March for Floyd on Saturday, June 6, at the Capitol. Some protesters thought another trooper had been disrespectful during speeches. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
Protesters by the thousands gathered at the Capitol for the March for Floyd on Saturday, June 6. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
Salem police officers on bike patrol endure a downpour that hit the March for Floyd event on Saturday, June 6. (Ron Cooper/Salem Reporter)
PREVIOUS REPORTING:
Hours of protest, speeches, and peaceful march mark one of Salem’s largest demonstrations
After a week of protests, thousands plan to attend Salem’s Saturday march for George Floyd
For black Salemites, recent protests highlight longtime concerns over racial profiling, equity
Salem police chief justifies different treatment for armed civilians downtown during curfew
Salem imposes weeklong overnight curfew to quell trouble, still allowing demonstrations
Hundreds gather for vigil, march in third night of Salem protests over George Floyd’s death
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