Floyd protests Day 9: Spontaneous demonstration breaks out
Protesters blocked off the intersection of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Second Avenue during an impromptu march June 4, 2020. (Patrick Lantrip/Daily Memphian)
A child looks up as a group of fellow protesters lay in the middle of the intersection of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Second Avenue June 4, 2020. (Patrick Lantrip/Daily Memphian)
Darin Abston Jr. and Frank Gottie march down Second Avenue June 4, 2020, for the ninth day of protests over the death of George Floyd. (Patrick Lantrip/Daily Memphian)
Darin Abston Jr. tosses an orange to a hungry protester during a civil disobedience training event at the National Civil Rights Museum June 4, 2020. (Patrick Lantrip/Daily Memphian)
Molly Litten helps write signs before a civil disobedience training event at the National Civil Rights Museum June 4, 2020. (Patrick Lantrip/Daily Memphian)
During a civil disobedience training event at the National Civil Rights Museum June 4, 2020, people broke into groups to strategies potential protest scenarios and how to best execute them. (Patrick Lantrip/Daily Memphian)
No protest was planned for the evening of Thursday, June 4, 2020, but one occurred anyway after a civil disobedience class at the National Civil Rights Museum. The Daily Memphian followed events with photos, videos and stories.
June 04, 2020
Civil disobedience training course leads to demonstration
Hundreds of people showed up to the National Civil Rights Museum on Thursday, June 4, for a civil disobedience training course held by the Official Black Lives Matter Memphis Chapter and Coalitions of Concerned Citizens, and several other groups.
The goals of the training course were to unite Memphis protesters under a list of ideologies and grievances, build a knowledge of how to safely and effectively execute a civil disobedience, prepare protesters to disrupt the economic system and protect the most vulnerable protesters during a disturbance.
More than 200 people participated in the civil disobedience training.
They sat on the lawn facing the courtyard at the museum.
During the event, they were split up into training groups based on their level of experience with protesting.
Protesters at the civil disobedience training class split into groups to come up with and practice civil disobedience scenarios. pic.twitter.com/NJ4wBaVWpu
— Patrick Lantrip (@patlantrip) June 5, 2020
“We believe that in order to properly protest and march against injustice and police brutality we have to be properly trained on how to do it, so that’s what really brought us all out here,” said 20-year-old ZaVon Glass.
Ashley Gaitan said she was fed up with injustice and racism in this country and that’s why she chose to take part in the training.
“I came here because this is the breaking point where we all need to come together and stand up for what’s right,” Gaitan said. “Enough is Enough.”
Impromptu protest shutting marching down Second Avenue towards downtown. pic.twitter.com/iOpkoYurri
— Patrick Lantrip (@patlantrip) June 5, 2020
Protesters lay down in the intersection of Dr. MLK Ave. amd Second St. in honor of George Floyd pic.twitter.com/32aUXi6Zi2
— Patrick Lantrip (@patlantrip) June 5, 2020
Impromptu protest lead by Frank Gottie and Darin Abston wraps up peacefully in time to get everyone back home safely. Gottie calls for continued protests at Poplar and Highland tomorrow at 6pm. pic.twitter.com/3wkuwi9Tdr
— Patrick Lantrip (@patlantrip) June 5, 2020
~ Patrick Lantrip, Yolanda Jones
June 03, 2020
Curfew moves into 4th night
The citywide curfew moves into its fourth evening Thursday, June 4.
Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland announced Thursday afternoon that the 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew will again be in force.
Continuing the curfew is a day-to-day decision. When Strickland announced the curfew Monday he said it would continue indefinitely. The state of emergency Strickland also issued with the curfew runs through Monday, June 8.
June 04, 2020
Germantown extends curfew through weekend
The city of Germantown is extending its nightly curfew through the weekend with some slight adjustments, officials announced Thursday afternoon.
The curfew remains in effect from 10 p.m. until 5 a.m. on Thursday. However, on Friday and Saturday the curfew will run from midnight until 5 a.m.
People traveling to or from work or those making medical emergency trips are exempt from the curfew.
The curfew is in the “interest of public safety” and “out of an abundance of caution,” according to a release from the city.
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