Speeches, Vigils As People Remember George Floyd In Orange County

ANAHEIM, CA —One day after a tense protests in Orange County, peaceful demonstrators gathered at Anaheim City Hall to share speeches, stories and frustration against police brutality.

George Floyd died over one week ago in Minneapolis while in a carotid restraint for almost nine minutes at the hand of police officers. All four officers involved have been charged in his death. Agencies across southern California are speaking out against practices that likely led to Floyd's death.

In Anaheim. a group of Pacific Islanders congregated in a peaceful demonstration that started at 9:30 a.m. in Carnegie Plaza. The group of about 250 people, many wearing traditional clothing, represented people originating from Tonga, Somoa and Fiji, marched to City Hall, chanting "Black Lives Matter."

On the steps of City Hall, protesters sang "Saving Grace" and clapped to end the demonstration.

All in all, the protests in Anaheim were peaceful.

As of 1 p.m., the demonstration was over while another began in the city of Irvine at the Bill Baber Memorial park.

Following the event, the City of Anaheim lifted all curfews, Wednesday.

"We thank all those who have peacefully expressed themselves in our city and those who will do so in days ahead," the city of Anaheim spokesperson said over social media, thanking all for their patience and cooperation.

Protests in Orange County on Wednesday were largely peaceful, apart from a man who was accused of striking a bicyclist with his car in Newport Beach as well as another man who is suspected of brandishing a weapon during one of several rallies in the city.

On Wednesday, a suspect and a protester got into a "verbal altercation" before he allegedly pulled out a gun from his backpack and then ran away, Newport Beach police said.

Anyone who has information relevant for detectives on the case were asked to call Det. Rick Henry at 949-644-3797, rhendry@nbpd.org.

Also in Newport Beach, Don Wallace, a man in his 50s, was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon after he allegedly struck a bicyclist at one of the protests in his Mini Cooper. He was booked in Newport Beach's jail and posted bail and was released, police say.

A protest in Garden Grove drew 3,000 people, but there were no incidents and police praised the protesters.

This report will be updated.