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)
After more than a week of rallies protesting police brutality, Salem had its largest showing Saturday with thousands of people taking to the streets around Oregon’s Capitol.
Those attending the event called March for Floyd vented their frustrations about the killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer. His death on Memorial Day has served as a catalyst for similar demonstrations around the world and in nearly every city in Oregon.
Speakers addressed the gathering for more than two hours, led chants and marched along closed streets in downtown.
For much of the afternoon, the rain poured on protesters, who were undeterred by the unseasonable weather that included a burst of hail
Julianne Jackson of Salem told the crowd the protest wasn’t about white versus black, it was about everyone versus racism and brutality.
“I see no reason for white guilt. You are not your forefathers and you have the ability to make change right now,” Jackson said.
Salem resident Daniel Muller pointed to the 1992 Los Angeles riots sparked after officers caught on video beating Rodney King were acquitted.
“Show me the changes from then. We still have police brutality. A change will come,” Muller said.
Speakers at the event repeatedly told the crowd to capitalize on the momentum to create lasting change beyond the protests.
Protesters raise their fists in solidarity during the March for Floyd event at the Capitol on Saturday, June 6. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
Salem Police Chief Jerry Moore was one of the first to speak, telling the sea of listeners that the way to make a change is to build a relationship with officers.
His agency was widely criticized after a video surfaced earlier in the week of an officer telling heavily armed people outside a downtown hair salon to either sit in their cars or in a parking garage after curfew so it didn’t look like police were “playing favorites” against protesters.
In an interview with Salem Reporter after his talk, Moore said the officer was trying to deescalate the situation and used one phrase — “playing favorites” — that wasn’t very good.
“He can’t take it back. We can’t take it back. We weren’t playing favorites,” he said.
The video came out just two days after Salem police used tear gas to disperse a group of protesters violating the city’s curfew on Saturday.
Moore said it was the first time Salem police used tear gas to control a crowd. But he also said the department hasn’t been in a situation where people are throwing “rocks and bricks and bottles and fireworks” at officers.
“When you look around the world and you look around our nation, we didn’t have looting, we didn’t have arson, we didn’t have wholesale damage to property. I think we did a pretty dog gone good job, quite frankly,” Moore said.
Protests of varying sizes have been held almost daily in Salem at the Capitol and elsewhere. But the rousing event Saturday was by far the largest – and one of the largest rallies ever held in Salem.
Gathered around the front of the Capitol, the protest took on elements of a summer festival as well, with dancers and singers performing. Even Caesar – the “No Drama Llama” – put in an appearance.
Saturday’s protest was largely peaceful, but a handful of counter protesters at the Capitol, one carrying a rifle, were screened off by police using their bicycles as the march got underway.
It was an emotional moment before the march as people knelt, thrust their fists into the air and began hugging their neighbors while the Bill Withers’ song “Lean on Me” played from speakers.
A throng of people marched down Court Street flanked by police on bicycles. Marchers chanted “hands up, don’t shoot” and “no justice, no peace” from megaphones throughout the walk, which went to downtown from the Capitol and then looped back on Liberty and Center Streets.
The crowd was so large, different sections of the march chanted along Liberty Street while another portion was heading up Center Street.
William Jones was holding a megaphone while walking along Liberty Street. He said he thought Saturday started to build a bridge with police officers that has been distant for so long.
“It’s an amazing feeling,” he said. “This is historical today.”
As the crowd made its way back to the Capitol, the mall swelled with people. There were more impromptu speeches before people made their way back up the Capitol steps.
The Sikh community provided free meals, the medical unit Alluvium offered COVID-19 tests and many handed out water bottles to protesters.
Benny Williams, Salem-Keizer NAACP president, said if people want to make a change they have to register and vote.
He said he came from a generation when the civil rights movement brought people together, but “we’ve let those rights and those laws slip through the cracks.”
Williams said people who are frustrated should channel their emotions into letter writing, making calls and sending emails to lawmakers.
“If they’re not listening to us, we’ll get someone who will listen to us in those offices,” Williams said.
Marion County Clerk Bill Burgess called Floyd’s killing a public lynching and urged people to vote. He said people were circulating voter registration cards at Saturday’s event.
“You want to make this Capitol building and its leaders quake? Vote. You want to make Congress and this president quake? Vote,” he said.
Melvin Smith wore a white t-shirt with the words “I can’t breathe” written across it.
“For a long time, I thought I was in this fight as a black man by myself,” he said.
Smith recounted a story of being left in a ditch by Mississippi police with his face broken at 14 years old.
“I’ve been fighting ever since, and I thought I was in this battle by myself but damn man. Look at this. I am heart touched and heartfelt. I’ve been fighting this battle for so long that I thought it would never end,” he said. “I can die in peace because I know you’re going to be there to keep on the fight.”
Thousands of people marched in Salem for George Floyd Saturday who was killed by a Minneapolis police officer. (Ron Cooper/Special to Salem Reporter)
Jacqueline Molina of Salem walks in the March for Floyd in Salem on Saturday, June 6. Protesters by the thousands joined the event that lasted for hours.(Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
Gregg Simpson, organizer of the March for Floyd, speaks from atop a sculpture on the Capitol grounds.Protesters by the thousands joined the event 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)
PREVIOUS REPORTING:
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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