Thousands Protest In CT Over Death Of George Floyd: Live Updates

HARTFORD, CT — Thousands and thousands of people marched all over Connecticut this weekend to peacefully protest police brutality and the killing of George Floyd in Minnesota. Protestors took over and shutdown Route 8 in Bridgeport for several hours before departing Saturday night. Two people out of 150 protesters were arrested.

On Sunday large protests shut down both Interstate 84 in Waterbury, Interstate 95 in New Haven and Norwalk, and Route 34 in New Haven. Other protests were held in Norwalk and Darien on Sunday.

Protests involving more than 2,000 people who marched on the streets of Hartford Saturday. The largest protest began at Bushnell Park and made its way to the State Capitol, the Hartford Courant reported. People from all races and backgrounds assembled and repeatedly chanted “Black lives matter” and “No justice no peace,” reports Daniela Altimari of the Courant. (Watch video including drone footage of the protest here.)

Other marches were held in New London and Middletown too. In Stratford, hundreds turned out for a peaceful protest on the green outside Town Hall. The event, attended by local officials as well as residents, was organized in less than 24 hours by a group of Stratford High School graduates who are home from college due to the coronavirus outbreak.

"We're just tired of seeing people die because of the color of their skin," said Ashley Bowers, one of the organizers.

See also: 2 Charged After Protestors Shutdown Highway for Hours

• Hundreds In Stratford Protest Police Brutality After Floyd Death
• Protesters Shut Down I-95 In New Haven Sunday
• Protesters Briefly Shut Down I-84 In Waterbury Sunday

Protests over Floyd's death began after he died while being forcibly arrested on Memorial Day by Minneapolis police. The protests later spread to major U.S. cities including Atlanta, New York, Los Angeles and now here in Connecticut this weekend. Fired police officer Derek Chauvin, the officer seen in a viral video with his knee of Floyd's neck, has been arrested and is charged with third-degree murder.

The deaths of Ahmaud Arbery in coastal Georgia, Breonna Taylor in Louisville, Ky., and Floyd sparked a movement for justice across the country. While protestors mobilized in Connecticut, numerous local law enforcement agencies and groups issued statements condemning the actions by police that led to Floyd's death.

In a statement by the Connecticut Police Chiefs Association they said the videos from Minneapolis are "beyond disturbing and cast a stain over the law enforcement profession and the dedicated men and women who strive to protect and serve their communities with honor."

"As Law Enforcement Officers, we recognize that the behavior in these videos reflect failures in police tactics, judgement and training," said Keith L. Mello, Milford Police Chief and President of the CPCA. "Of equal concern is the lack of intervention by other officers on the scene. We are reminded that we are leaders in our communities, especially during a time of crisis. Our oath and our ethics require us to act whenever we are witnessing an unjust act, even by another police officer.

"Unfortunately these actions in Minnesota erode the layers of trust, confidence and goodwill that so many of you have built within your communities, especially those who lead agencies in fragile communities," Mello added in the CPCA's statement. "Every person deserves to be treated with dignity and respect, this is the foundation of our profession. Any violation of these core tenets is inexcusable. “Every day, Every Incident Matters”

Connecticut State Police said on social media that "We Stand With You! Connecticut State Troopers Stand Against Police Brutality!"

Stamford Police Chief Timothy Shaw said, "The death of George Floyd in Minneapolis is very disturbing and there is no excuse for the actions of the Officers."

"... I would like to assure the residents of Stamford that we are just as disappointed as you are and do not want the behavior of those officers to affect the relationship we have built within our community. We will continue to hold ourselves to the highest standard," Shaw said.

See also: Businesses Find Broken Windows, Trash Day After ATL Riot

• George Floyd Death: Former Cop Derek Chauvin Charged With Murder
• Minneapolis In 'Absolute Chaos' As Protests Break Out Across U.S.

Patch editors Andrea V. Watson and William Bornhoft contributed to this story.