Thousands gathered Downtown Sunday afternoon to protest the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police.
Before looters and vandals stole the spotlight, community members were joined by visitors to the city to share one message: Black lives matter.
It’s unclear who organized Sunday’s protest. Local activists said the demonstration sprang up organically after a flyer rocketed across social media asking people to gather in front of Long Beach police headquarters.
By 2:30 p.m., there were hundreds of people outside the building, which had been fortified with concrete barriers and chainlink fencing overnight
The marchers headed east, picking up 20 or 30 people along each block until the group swelled to at least 3,000 strong and circled back Downtown.
Protesters march across Shoreline Drive toward the Aquarium of the Pacific in Downtown Long Beach, Sunday, May 31, 2020. Photo by Brandon Richardson.
A protester chants in front of a police line in Downtown Long Beach, Sunday, May 31, 2020. Photo by Brandon Richardson.
A protester holds up a heart in front of a police line in Downtown Long Beach, Sunday, May 31, 2020. Photo by Brandon Richardson.
Protesters peacefully stand in front of police in Downtown Long Beach, Sunday, May 31, 2020. Photo by Brandon Richardson.
Protesters march down Chestnut Avenue toward to Aquarium of the Pacific in Downtown Long Beach, Sunday, May 31, 2020. Photo by Brandon Richardson.
A demonstrator stands on top of a bus stop as the crowd moves down Broadway during a protest of the death George Floyd, in Long Beach Sunday, May 31, 2020. Photo by Thomas R. Cordova.
A demonstrator talks to the crowd with a megaphone at Ocean and Alamitos during a protest of George Floyd’s death, in Long Beach Sunday, May 31, 2020. Photo by Thomas R. Cordova.
A protester stands in front of the Long Beach police line at Pine Avenue and Broadway during a protest of the death of George Floyd, in Long Beach Sunday, May 31, 2020. Photo by Thomas R. Cordova.
A demonstrator yells into a megaphone during a protest of the death of George Floyd, in Long Beach Sunday, May 31, 2020. Photo by Thomas R. Cordova.
A demonstrator yells “hands up, don’t shoot” during a protest of the death of George Floyd, in Long Beach Sunday, May 31, 2020. Photo by Thomas R. Cordova.
Two crowds of protesters converged at Chestnut Avenue and Broadway to protest police brutality and the killing of George Floyd in Long Beach on Sunday, May 31, 2020. Courtesy photo.
Protesters block the intersection of Ocean Boulevard and Alamitos Avenue. Photo by Steven Smith.
Protesters block the intersection of Ocean Boulevard and Alamitos Avenue. Photo by Jason Ruiz.
Protesters march through Long Beach in response to the killing of George Floyd. Photo by Steven Smith.
Protesters standing in front of an LBPD motorcycle officer on Ocean Boulevard chanting, “Hands up don’t shoot” on Sunday, May 31. Photo by Kelly Puente.
Protesters walk down Broadway, near Cherry Avenue, as they protest police brutality, sparked by the recent death of George Floyd, by Minnesota police officer Derek Chauvin. Sunday, May 31, 2020. Photo by Stephen Carr.
A bystander looks on as protesters walk down Broadway, near Cherry Avenue, as they protest police brutality, sparked by the recent death of George Floyd, by Minnesota police officer Derek Chauvin. Sunday, May 31, 2020. Photo by Stephen Carr.
A bystander looks on as protesters walk down Broadway, near Cherry Avenue, as they protest police brutality, sparked by the recent death of George Floyd, by Minnesota police officer Derek Chauvin. Sunday, May 31, 2020. Photo by Stephen Carr.
Protesters walk down Broadway, near Cherry Avenue, as they protest police brutality, sparked by the recent death of George Floyd, by Minnesota police officer Derek Chauvin. Sunday, May 31, 2020. Photo by Stephen Carr.
Protesters walk down Ocean Boulevard, as they protest police brutality, sparked by the recent death of George Floyd, by Minnesota police officer Derek Chauvin. Sunday, May 31, 2020. Photo by Stephen Carr.
Protesters walk down Ocean Boulevard, as they protest police brutality, sparked by the recent death of George Floyd, by Minnesota police officer Derek Chauvin. Sunday, May 31, 2020. Photo by Stephen Carr.
Protesters gather at the corner of Ocean Boulevard ad Alamitos Avenue, as they protest police brutality, sparked by the recent death of George Floyd, by Minnesota police officer Derek Chauvin. Sunday, May 31, 2020. Photo by Stephen Carr.
Protesters gather at the corner of Ocean Boulevard ad Alamitos Avenue, as they protest police brutality, sparked by the recent death of George Floyd, by Minnesota police officer Derek Chauvin. Sunday, May 31, 2020. Photo by Stephen Carr.
Protesters along Long Beach Boulevard and First Street, as they protest police brutality, sparked by the recent death of George Floyd, by Minnesota police officer Derek Chauvin. Sunday, May 31, 2020. Photo by Stephen Carr.
Protesters confront LBPD officers along Pine Avenue, as they protest police brutality, sparked by the recent death of George Floyd, by Minnesota police officer Derek Chauvin. Sunday, May 31, 2020. Photo by Stephen Carr.
Protesters at Ocean Boulevard Pine Avenue, as they protest police brutality, sparked by the recent death of George Floyd, by Minnesota police officer Derek Chauvin. Sunday, May 31, 2020. Photo by Stephen Carr.
Protesters at Ocean Boulevard Pine Avenue, as they protest police brutality, sparked by the recent death of George Floyd, by Minnesota police officer Derek Chauvin. Sunday, May 31, 2020. Photo by Stephen Carr.
A protester stands in front of LBPD, at Pine Avenue, as they protest police brutality, sparked by the recent death of George Floyd, by Minnesota police officer Derek Chauvin. Sunday, May 31, 2020. Photo by Stephen Carr.
A protester confronts LBPD, at Pine Avenue, as they protest police brutality, sparked by the recent death of George Floyd, by Minnesota police officer Derek Chauvin. Sunday, May 31, 2020. Photo by Stephen Carr.
Protesters confront LBPD along Broadway in Downtown Long Beach, protesting police brutality, sparked by the recent death of George Floyd, by Minnesota police officer Derek Chauvin. Sunday, May 31, 2020. Photo by Stephen Carr.
Protesters confront LBPD along Broadway in Downtown Long Beach, protesting police brutality, sparked by the recent death of George Floyd, by Minnesota police officer Derek Chauvin. Sunday, May 31, 2020. Photo by Stephen Carr.