Pleasanton Protesters Kneel In The Streets For Moment of Silence

PLEASANTON, CA — More than 1,000 Pleasanton protesters filled Amador Valley Community Park and Santa Rita Road Friday, calling for racial justice in the wake of George Floyd's death.

Protesters peacefully gathered and marched Friday. Chief David Swing was among the speakers. Police said the crowd remained calm.

Protesters said they knelt in silence for eight minutes and 46 seconds — the amount of time that former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin knelt on Floyd's neck.

The event began at 2 p.m. and the crowd had mostly dispersed by 4:30 p.m. Roads were briefly closed as protesters took to the streets.

The protest was one of many organized in Tri-Valley and across the country in honor of Floyd, a 46-year-old black man, died after Chauvin, a 44-year-old white man, knelt on his neck, pinning Floyd down after arresting him following a call reporting his suspected use of a counterfeit bill at a store. Floyd said he could not breathe during the encounter and had no pulse when he was taken into an ambulance.

All four officers at the scene were fired. On Wednesday Chauvin was charged with second-degree murder and the other three officers on scene — Tou Thao, J. Alexander Kueng and Thomas Lane — were charged with aiding and abetting second-degree murder and manslaughter.

A car caravan protest is planned at 4 p.m. Sunday in Pleasanton. The car caravan protest will start at the United States Postal Service office at 4300 Black Ave., proceed southbound on Santa Rita Road, westbound on Bernal Avenue, northbound on Valley Avenue, then eastbound to return to the post office, according to a flyer circulated online.

See videos of the event posted on Twitter:

People of all ages, demographics, professions, gathered to - protest, support, speak up, be an ally #Pleasanton police chief was among the invited speakers. Ending the protest w/ everyone kneeling in silence...powerful. #BlackLivesMatter #inclusionmatters #BeTheChange #BayArea pic.twitter.com/fkn4cnYC1t
— Nidhi Wadmark (@nidhiwadmark) June 5, 2020

@DaTrillStak5 Peacefully protest in Pleasanton CA! #Pleasantonprotest #GeorgeFloyd pic.twitter.com/PbXQt4NpMI
— Chris Luxford (@LuxfordChris) June 5, 2020

Went to the #pleasanton ca protest today and it was very peaceful! The police were standing with us and they blocked the streets for us to march! We kneeled for 8 min and 46 seconds and also said happy birthday to #BreonnaTaylor #californiaprotests #JusticeforBreonnaTaylor #blm pic.twitter.com/J3M5OigkCE
— Black lives matter!! (@staysafe_fight) June 5, 2020

Read more:

• Car Caravan Protest Planned In Pleasanton This Weekend
• Pleasanton Police To Community: 'We Hear You'
• Tri-Valley Protests, Businesses Board Up During National Unrest
• Livermore Protesters Decry Racial Injustice Thursday
• Danville Protests Continue In Honor Of George Floyd
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