By Erik Galicia
Leo Cabral | Viewpoints
A demonstrator walks down Market Street on June 1 holding a cardboard sign with hashtags saying, “Black Lives Matter. RIP George Floyd. Justice for George Floyd.” In the air is a plane flying the message, “We love the police! USA thanks you!”
Leo Cabral | Viewpoints
Riverside County Sheriff deputies observe the protest from the roof of the Robert Presley Detention Center June 1.
Jonathan Ramirez | Viewpoints
A protester in Riverside speaks through a loud speaker June 1 on behalf of George Floyd and all victims of racial violence at the hands of police.
Jonathan Ramirez | Viewpoints
Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, left, shakes hands with a protester, right, in front of a heavily guarded Robert Presley Detention Center in Riverside on June 1.
Jonathan Ramirez | Viewpoints
A protester, right, is seen with Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, left, as demonstrators discuss police violence in front of the Robert Presley Detention Center on June 1.
Jonathan Ramirez | Viewpoints
Riverside Mobile Field Force police officers, dressed in riot gear and armed with batons, stand by as protesters take a knee in memory of victims of police brutality.
Jonathan Ramirez | Viewpoints
Protesters and Riverside County Sheriff’s deputies face off June 1 as a demonstrator raises a sign that speaks racially motivated murders committed by police.
Leo Cabral | Viewpoints
Demonstrators march down Market Street in front of the Food Lab in Downtown Riverside June 1.
Leo Cabral | Viewpoints
Two demonstrators walking to the Riverside Public Library where the peaceful protest demanding justice for George Floyd and an end to police brutality is to take place June 1.
Leo Cabral | Viewpoints
A group of Riverside County Police officers with protective gear awaits the protest for the Black Lives Matter and Justice for George Floyd protest at the intersection of Orange and Tenth Streets June 1. This intersection is where the Robert Presley Detention Center is located.
Thousands filled the streets of downtown Riverside on June 1 to protest the death of George Floyd, a Black man who died at the hands of a White Minneapolis police officer on Memorial day.
Protesters of all ages and ethnicities chanted “I can’t breathe,” which Floyd is heard saying in the footage of the incident, and “Black Lives Matter” for hours as they marched in memory of all Black people who have been killed by police.
Floyd was asphyxiated over eight minutes and 46 seconds of having Officer Derek Chauvin’s knee on the back of his neck. The footage shows two other officers helping pin Floyd to the ground face down as another officer watches.
Riverside has seen demonstrations against police brutality before. Many protesters called for remembrance of Tyisha Miller, a 19 year old Black woman who was shot and killed by police officers at a Riverside gas station in 1998.
The demonstration began in front of the Riverside Public Library on Mission Inn Avenue and continued around the area. Marchers eventually met face-to-face with Riverside County Sheriff’s deputies in front of the Robert Presley Detention Center on the intersection of Orange and Tenth Streets.
The protest remained peaceful for the most part and some were seen kneeling with Sheriff Chad Bianco as they discussed the police’s relationship with people of color. Viewpoints reporters noticed new arrivals to the area, dressed in black, as many of the original protesters dispersed after 7 p.m.
Deputies began enforcing the 6 p.m. curfew at around that time and made some arrests. Some incidents of looting were also reported that night.
A candlelight vigil in honor of Floyd and other victims of racial violence is scheduled for June 4 at 6 p.m. by the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial near the intersection of Main and Ninth Streets in Riverside.
