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Scenes from Tuesday's March For George Floyd

Hundreds are gathering at Discovery Green to march to Houston City Hall with his family.

By Timothy Malcolm, Gwendolyn Knapp, Catherine Wendlandt, and Dianna Wray June 2, 2020

Image: Shutterstock/Kunal Mehta

On Tuesday, tens of thousands gathered at Discovery Green to march to Houston City Hall with George Floyd's family. Floyd died last week while in police custody after a Minneapolis police officer kneeled on his neck for nearly nine minutes.

We'll be updating this story as the march progresses; refresh this story to see the latest.

Update 9:45 p.m. June 2

Protesters remain Downtown as police stand guard wearing riot gear. There is no curfew established for the city tonight.

Update 8:15 p.m. June 2

People are still in the Downtown area, but Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo is out there with them, talking to people on his own, without any security or other HPD escort.

Image: Screengrab via KTRK

Update 7:45 p.m. June 2

According to reports, protesters are still in the Downtown area. According to eyewitness reports, police are blocking off intersections and certain streets.

Update 5:45 p.m. June 2

Trae Tha Truth has arrived on the scene of the tensions between about a hundred police officers and a couple hundred protesters, telling the protesters that it is now time to go home.

The cluster of people, located at Travis and Walker streets, cleared out within minutes.

Update 5:25 p.m. June 2

KTRK reports that a man got in the face of a police officer as the crowd was dispersing, which quickly led to a packed street of people chanting, and some taking a knee, in front of a wall of officers dressed in riot gear.

No arrests have been reported, per sources.

Update 5:15 p.m. June 2

Update 5:05 p.m. June 2

The protest, which started with prayer, also ended with prayer at City Hall before the protesters headed back to disperse from Discovery Green.

"This is 400 years of pain," the pastor said. "We cannot go back. We must not go back. Let this anger turn into activism, become something greater. Let his death be the seed that produces the fruit that changes the nation, that changes the world by changing you."

Update 5 p.m. June 2

According to the mayor's office, 60,000 people turned out Tuesday for the march and rally.

"I'm angry, but now here is the most important thing. Some of you are angry too. But the question is, what do we do with our anger? We cannot allow one march to be the end of the movement," Green said. "We have got to register, we have got to vote in November, and we have got to go to the polls like we have never gone to the polls before and kick some people out of office."

Green, who was the first to introduce legislation proposing to impeach President Donald Trump, said Trump should be the first person voted out. He then shifted his tone, calling on people to ensure that the protest will remain peaceful, instructing them to point out anyone being destructive and to say, "Not with us."

Update 4:55 p.m. June 2

"I'm angry," U.S. Rep Al Green said. "Because I know that black lives matter and no matter what your color, no matter what your station is, you are not better than George Floyd. He is as important as you are."

Green also announced plans for legislation. "This country declared a war on poverty, we declared a war on drugs, we declared a war on cancer. It's time to declare a war on racism."

Update 4:50 p.m. June 2

"This country is not of itself. You are this nation, and I come here today for you to take your nation. It's your country," U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee said. "I don't want to walk this journey again. It is time for a revolution of change, for the dignity of all of us, no matter our color."

Lee announced she is going to introduce "revolutionary new legislation" to change how police work and interact with the public. She added she will work to have a bill named for George Floyd so that the chant "I can't breathe" will never be heard again.

Update 4:45 p.m. June 2

"Please, man, help my brother rest in peace, man, but do it the right way," another family member urged the audience, asking that the protest remain peaceful.

Update 4:40 p.m. June 2

The family of George Floyd is now speaking, offering thanks to the Houstonians assembled.

"I don't want nobody protesting violently, It's all of us. It's bigger than us. We've got kids growing up," a family member said, thanking everyone for turning out.

"Big Floyd required everyone to do one thing before he took his last breath. He said to get up," said a family member. "They're expecting you to behave unbecomingly. They're expecting you to act like a fool. But we don't have to. Look around: We all we got. The best thing about that? We all we need."

Update 4:35 p.m. June 2

"I correct Bun B. I did not allow you to protest at City Hall. Quite frankly, this is your city, this is your home. It doesn't belong to me, it belongs to you," Turner went on. "But today is about lifting up the name of George Floyd. It's about supporting 16 members of his family that have taken the time to walk through the streets, to be here with you today. I want the focus to be on them. Because at the end of the day, when we go home they still have to deal with a relative that is no longer here, not today, not next month, but for the rest of their lives. So today we want to love on them. We want them to know that George did not die in vain."

Update 4:30 p.m. June 2

"I want you to know that your marching, your protesting, your demonstrating has not gone in vain," Mayor Sylvester Turner told the crowd. "We need to understand that in our city we respect every single person, every person is important, every neighborhood is valued and we have to commit ourselves to making sure we do better every single day. I'm not here to tell you that we're perfect, I'm not here to tell you that we don't make mistakes. But what is important, for people like myself in positions of authority and power, we have to make sure that while we are here we work every single day to make a positive difference. And what is important is for the mayor of Houston to march, walk, protest, with you, not against you."

Update 4:25 p.m. June 2

"This is no longer just a black parade. This is a parade of all kinds of races and cultures. You have been heard," said Rev. Bill Lawson, pastor emeritus of Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church in Houston, and a civil rights pioneer.

"The next thing you have to do is not march, but register and vote. We have to get out of office those people who feel they have to energize and make possible those who would suppress black folks," he continued, speaking so softly that people got quiet to better hear him.

"Keep mobilized," he continued. "Don't let this be a one-day parade."

Update 4:20 p.m. June 2

The Houston Police Department stands guard in full force at Houston City Hall.

Image: Gwendolyn Knapp

Update 4:15 p.m. June 2

Houstonia’s Gwendolyn Knapp is at the protest, and the crowd is so huge she is only now arriving at City Hall.

Image: Gwendolyn Knapp

A man hands out water to protesters; he's one of many who’ve chosen to do this for free along the march route.

Image: Gwendolyn Knapp

Update 4:10 p.m. June 2

Tamika Mallory spoke of revolution during the rally, demanding that change occur, even if it means some lives will be lost along the way.

"We are demanding that this country treat black people the way you treat everyone else," said Mallory.

Toward the end of her speech, Mallory told the crowd to reject violent action and, instead, show solidarity in numbers.

"We don't have to throw one brick," she said. "What we have to do is organize ... turn out like we have never turned out before."

Update 4:05 p.m. June 2

"We are at a critical moment in our history. We are about to change America forever," said Tamika Mallory, an activist who was a co-chair of the 2017 Women's March, while speaking to the crowd at City Hall. "Now more than ever we must continue to be vigilant and we must press forward."

Mallory called George Floyd a martyr. "His death has changed the hearts of men, women and children all over the world."

Update 4 p.m. June 2

"I want to tell each and every one of y'all from the bottom of our hearts, thank y'all," said rapper Trae Tha Truth. "I want to thank every city, every state that stood up for George Floyd that didn't even know George Floyd."

Update 3:55 p.m. June 2

"Look around you. Don't let anybody tell you what Houston, Texas is. This is Houston, Texas," rapper Bun B said to the crowd as he started off the proceedings at City Hall.

He continued: "We stand for everything that means something under God's word."

Update 3:50 p.m. June 2

Rapper Trae Tha Truth (Frazier Othel Thompson III) is among those leading the march today.

Update 3:45 p.m. June 2

Discovery Green has emptied out and now the crowd is gathered around City Hall. There are hundreds gathered in front of City Hall, and there are reportedly thousands in the streets around City Hall.

Update 3:40 p.m. June 2

The march continues toward City Hall. Gatherers will surround the reflecting pond in front of City Hall at Walker and Smith streets.

Update 3:35 p.m. June 2

Almost everyone on the scene is wearing a mask, and as they walk drum beats sound in some parts of the march, while others continue to chant, "No justice, no peace."

Update 3:30 p.m. June 2

There were an estimated 20,000 people gathered at Discovery Green at 3 p.m., according to KTRK. Now the march is beginning to move down Walker Street, which has been closed off and has a line of police officers keeping the roadway closed to vehicles.

Updated 3:25 p.m. June 2

People watch the march from the rooftop pool at the Marriott Marquis Houston.

Image: Gwendolyn Knapp

Protesters take a knee.

Updated 3:20 p.m. June 2

Houstonia associate editor Gwendolyn Knapp is live at the march. Some photos:

Protesters raise signs at the March For George Floyd Tuesday at Discovery Green in Houston.

Image: Gwendolyn Knapp

Folks are packed together during the March for George Floyd.

Image: Gwendolyn Knapp

Updated 3:15 p.m. June 2

Mayor Sylvester Turner and Houston Police offer thoughts:

Updated 3 p.m. June 2

Interfaith Ministries has a livestream going:

A look at the crowds. Plenty of signs and, according to reports, a peaceful vibe.

Comments from Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo:

Updated 2:55 p.m. June 2

The crowds are expected to be in the thousands.

If you need to hydrate:

Updated 2:45 p.m. June 2

As thousands gather at Discovery Green, urban trail riding club Nonstop Riders is setting the tone.

Filed under
George Floyd, Houston, Downtown, Black Lives Matter, Protests
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