MEMPHIS, Tenn. — UPDATE: (1:12 a.m.) The protest has ended and crowds have dispersed. Police now have four protestors in custody.
UPDATE: (1:00 a.m.) Police are taking some protestors into custody after begging them to go home. “This is your final warning," they said.
Police just took four protesters into custody. @FOX13Memphis
— Kirstin Garriss (@ReporterGarriss) June 1, 2020
UPDATE: (12:49 p.m.) This photo and video show a shoe store window being smashed by protestors during the demonstration. No items were reportedly stolen.
WINDOWS SMASHED ON MAIN STREET: Moments ago, our cameras captured a crowd of protesters bust out the windows of a shoe store on Main Street. https://t.co/SngywC74H5 pic.twitter.com/h8WhXbA3Ip
— FOX13 Memphis (@FOX13Memphis) June 1, 2020
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UPDATE: (12:42 p.m.) MPD is trying to clear the scene. They are asking all protestors to go home.
NOW: Police are asking protesters to clear the area of Court Ave and N. Front Street. @FOX13Memphis pic.twitter.com/eKdx9qFV9T
— Kirstin Garriss (@ReporterGarriss) June 1, 2020
UPDATE: (12:20 p.m.) More tear gas is being deployed near Bass Pro Shop as police start to bring out the horses. The crowd is chanting, “Hands up, don’t shoot!"
UPDATE: (12:07 p.m) Crowds have split into smaller groups and are moving South down Front street and headed towards the UofM law library.
This is right by 201 Poplar. We’re still walking. Crowd is heading down Danny Thomas Blvd. @FOX13Memphis pic.twitter.com/A4zGzmlYky
— Kirstin Garriss (@ReporterGarriss) June 1, 2020
UPDATE: (11:32 p.m.) Rubber bullets along with tear gas were fired at protestors.
The Shelby County Sheriff’s Department just fired rubber bullets and unleashed tear gas on protestors on Riverside Drive. Silence from Both Mayors, the police director and the Sheriff. Three of whom are black men. #BlackLivesMatter #memphis #memphisprotests #GeorgeFloydProtests
— Tami Sawyer (@tamisawyer) June 1, 2020
UPDATE: (11:12 p.m.) The National Guard and police are staged near the I-40 bridge.
Apparently, tear gas was deployed at Bass Pro and people are using milk to relieve the pain.
Some police can even be seen with bats in their hands.
More tear gas on one end of the street and then on the other more state troopers on the way. Again my photographer and I are keeping our distance and we are staying safe. @FOX13Memphis pic.twitter.com/Xe8B72vpfG
— Kirstin Garriss (@ReporterGarriss) June 1, 2020
Police just deployed tear gas near the Bass Pro shop. Plus several state troopers heading Riverside Dr. We are at a safe distance. @FOX13Memphis pic.twitter.com/aCXDFjNzAR
— Kirstin Garriss (@ReporterGarriss) June 1, 2020
UPDATE: (10:56 p.m.) Protesters coming face-to-face with police on Beale Street.
The MPD headquarters and City Hall are being boarded up against rioters.
NEW: Crews are boarding up city hall and @MEM_PoliceDept headquarters in downtown. Worth nothing, we have NOT seen any damage to either one of these buildings. @FOX13Memphis pic.twitter.com/P6hhUzChvN
— Kirstin Garriss (@ReporterGarriss) June 1, 2020
UPDATE: (10:20 p.m.) The National Guard is now mobilized across the state, per Governor Lee.
Protestors are back in front of the NCRM.
Confirmed: @GovBillLee has mobilized the National Guard across the state. These are some of the military humvees that were staging on Front Street and then most of them headed down Poplar Ave. @FOX13Memphis pic.twitter.com/S51R24sQ90
— Kirstin Garriss (@ReporterGarriss) June 1, 2020
UPDATE: (10:12 p.m) Protestors scatter from Crump Blvd and are possibly headed to Beale Street.
Within the last 5 minutes the small group of protesters have left this area of crump before 55 where MPD has set up barricades. I’m following this group of protesters who I’m told are moving to Beale St. @FOX13Memphis pic.twitter.com/hdT7HXge3m
— Shelia O'Connor FOX13 (@SheliaOConnor) June 1, 2020
UPDATE: (10:00 p.m.) Humvees have been brought out by troopers to Front Ave and First. It’s been three hours since the march started and there are still no reports of violent activities.
Memphis police officers in riot gear. A barricade is up at Crump before getting to 55. Protesters are on the other side, trying to engage officers. @FOX13Memphis pic.twitter.com/B6smvvepq6
— Shelia O'Connor FOX13 (@SheliaOConnor) June 1, 2020
UPDATE: (9:20 p.m.) The march on I-55 has come to a pause and the group is now in the French Fort neighborhood.
UPDATE: (9:04 p.m.) Protesters are marching north on I-55 at Mclemore.
Heading north on 55 @FOX13Memphis pic.twitter.com/er7AUrbsKh
— Jonathan Marshall (@JMarshallFox13) June 1, 2020
@FOX13Memphis pic.twitter.com/Q7u0IEDnmi
— Jonathan Marshall (@JMarshallFox13) June 1, 2020
“How do you feel? I know you feel it. Your momma shed tears, your grandmother shed tears, your ancestors shed tears. How do you feel," one protestor said.
@FOX13Memphis pic.twitter.com/vWyo0gd1HW
— Jonathan Marshall (@JMarshallFox13) June 1, 2020
UPDATE: (8:30 p.m.) I-55 is now blocked off. Some people are saying the police have mace out and is ready to spray. Still, no violence yet.
GALLERY: PHOTOS: Memphis demonstrators protest racial injustice for George Floyd for the 5th day
#BreakingNews I-55 at Crump blocked as #BLMMemphis protest and meet by @ShelbyTNSheriff @FOX13Memphis has crews there. Follow the developments @FOX13Memphis FB page live stream pic.twitter.com/Ku6JclmwyG
— Greg Coy (@GCoyFOX13) June 1, 2020
@FOX13Memphis pic.twitter.com/CJyfx5lrjx
— Jonathan Marshall (@JMarshallFox13) June 1, 2020
UPDATE: (8:18 p.m.) Protesters are on the Arkansas bridge. Police are blocking off the area in riot gear and are demanding for them to stop. They are chanting, “This is what democracy looks like." One man said, “We are not afraid, we will not back down.”
@FOX13Memphis pic.twitter.com/APfc7mawLj
— Jonathan Marshall (@JMarshallFox13) June 1, 2020
@FOX13Memphis pic.twitter.com/egYcGoyjWA
— Jonathan Marshall (@JMarshallFox13) June 1, 2020
UPDATE: (8:11 p.m.) They’re on I-55 and appear to be headed to Tom Lee Park.
#HappeningNow Protesters leave @NCRMuseum as they appear to be walking to #TomLeePark area. Follow their route @FOX13Memphis FB page live stream. pic.twitter.com/P8BVvw2pDJ
— Greg Coy (@GCoyFOX13) June 1, 2020
UPDATE: (8:02 p.m) Protestors are back at the Civil Right Museum where they began an hour ago. Some of the extremist groups are going against one of the city’s activists, Devante Hill, saying they should take a different approach and shut things down.
Separate protestors have gone against Devante Hill ...he’s called the protest off...the other group has left @FOX13Memphis pic.twitter.com/NyF3IxFTAu
— Jonathan Marshall (@JMarshallFox13) June 1, 2020
UPDATE: (7:35 p.m.) Police helicopters are now outside circling South and Front St. as protestors march.
UPDATE: (7:33 p.m.) Some of the protestors split up and are in front of Peabody and Front St.
UPDATE: (7:00 p.m.) The protest/conference has started. Demonstrators began with a 9-minute kneel, chanting “Black Lives Matter”.
Walking down South Main @FOX13Memphis pic.twitter.com/mp9qsfZJB2
— Jonathan Marshall (@JMarshallFox13) June 1, 2020
@FOX13Memphis pic.twitter.com/qhm9FvDMUv
— Jonathan Marshall (@JMarshallFox13) June 1, 2020
Sunday night marks the fifth night of protesting in Downtown Memphis, but this time, they wanted to speak to the people in charge.
Activists wanted a face to face meeting with mayors Strickland and Harris, the district attorney, the Memphis police director, and Shelby County Sheriffs.
A press conference was scheduled at 7:00 p.m. at the National Civil Rights Museum.
FOX13 will have live coverage.
MORE: #ICANTBREATH protest for George Floyd ended peacefully in Downtown Memphis
Saturday night was the fourth night of peaceful protests in Memphis.
It started at 6:30 p.m. at the National Civil Rights Museum and ended a little after 9 p.m.
About 500 people gathered and as they marched through the streets, MPD was at each intersection blocking traffic.
A couple of hours later things escalated on Beale Street.
Video footage showed police in riot gear with barricades between them and people.
The barricades fell causing tension, however, we’re not sure if those involved were among those protesting earlier, but some were arrested, per police.
MORE: Peaceful protest for racial injustices continues in the Mid-South
Shelby County commissioner Tami Sawyer tweeted that a group of people waited outside in the parking lot of 201 Poplar for the protestors to be released.
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