Live: Black Lives Matter protesters march in Tampa on Sunday – Tampa Bay Times

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TAMPA — Hundreds of protesters marched in East Tampa and St. Petersburg on Sunday afternoon to draw attention to the toll of police violence on African Americans.

It was the second day of protests in the area, sparked in response to the death of George Floyd last week, after a Minneapolis police officer was recorded kneeling on his neck for nearly nine minutes. That officer was charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter Friday.

After looting and instances of violence marked protests Saturday night, city officials and businesses enacted measures designed to reduce the risk of violence. Malls in Brandon and Citrus Park closed at 4 p.m., and Mayor Jane Caster announced a 7:30 p.m. curfew for the city of Tampa.

“What I saw last night, happens in other cities, not Tampa,” Castor said in a statement. “We are better than that.”

At marches on both sides of the bay, organizers worked to keep things calm.

Black Lives Matter Tampa and 12 other Florida-based civil rights organizations were involved in planning the East Tampa rally, and they brought dozens of trained legal observers, “safety marshals” and a team of mobile medics on the scene to help with crowd control.

“We don’t condone any lawlessness.” the group said in a statement.

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People began gathering before noon Sunday in Cyrus Greene Park, where clergy members prayed for change and a peaceful day. Organizers encouraged people to register to vote and handed out water bottles and snacks to help people cope with 90-degree weather. Some marchers stopped to fan themselves and others with their signs. Paramedics took one person away on a stretcher who collapsed from the heat.

The organizers also issued a warning to white people in the crowd: If they were here from out of town and looking to cause trouble, they were in the wrong place.

“This is a rebellion against this injustice we’ve been plagued with for 438 years,” said Jarvis El-Amin, vice chair of Masjid An-Nasr mosque in Tampa. “We want equality, love and fairness.”

Johnny Johnson, a protester, moved among crowds reminding people to stay calm and to remember that the day was about uniting and making their voices heard.

When asked about the mayhem Saturday night, in which at least 40 businesses in Hillsborough County were burglarized and looted and five were set on fire, he said: “They can rebuild that, but we can’t bring back lives.”

Many people were wearing masks at the rally, but it was hard to keep a 6-foot social distance.

At about 1:45 p.m., people began to march south down N 21st Street chanting, “Hands up, don’t shoot!” By 3 p.m., along N 15th St., chants had turned to “No justice, no peace!” and “F–k the police!” By 4:15, they had shut down the intersection of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and N 22nd Street, chanting, “No justice, no peace, no racist police!”

“Safety marshals” dressed in orange and yellow vests helped direct people where to go.

“You marched here for solidarity work in the black community, which means that if you’re here, you’re not centering your feelings on you,” marshal M. Jose Chapa shouted through a megaphone in Rainbow Heights. “It is a hot day. Please stay hydrated. But if anybody needs help, look to us, and we’re there. We are trained in de-escalation tactics.”

In St. Petersburg, dozens of demonstrators gathered at police headquarters downtown and marched against traffic on First Avenue N, kneeling for a beat at each intersection. The march looped past City Hall and headed south on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. St. S.

“Another black man has been murdered, and we’re tired of it,” said Aaliyah Wilcox, 27, of St. Petersburg.

“I got black sons growing up,” said Turquoise McClendon, 28, of St. Petersburg. “I’m tired of having to explain to them why we can’t do the things other people do.”

While most cars stopped each time the marchers kneeled — some even cheering their support — one driver didn’t heed, inching closer and closer until protesters moved. No one was injured.

This is a developing story. Stay with tampabay.com for updates.

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