Miami

Protesters Gather Across South Florida for Ninth Consecutive Day of Demonstrations

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On Sunday, for the ninth consecutive day, hundreds of protesters in Miami-Dade and Broward counties gathered in cities across the two regions, calling for an end to police brutality.

In Miami, hundreds of protesters gathered outside Panther Coffee in Wynwood before marching throughout Downtown Miami.

The large crowd caused police to shut down I-95 near Northwest 20th Street for a period of time, according to Miami Police Department.

Video shows the protesters climbing onto the busy expressway and being met by city police and Florida Highway Patrol troopers.

Officers eventually allowed the group to march on the interstate.

The Julia Tuttle Causeway was also closed in both directions, according to police.

At the end of the demonstration, City of Miami Police confirmed no arrests had been made.

Earlier in the day, dozens of people in the community took part in a "Compassion Caravan."

Demonstrators, which included City of Miami Mayor Francis Suarez, drove throughout Liberty City and Little Havana - handing out thousands of flowers to activists and residents in the area.

The caravan embarked on a historic, yet familiar, tour, showcasing the racial injustice that has existed throughout the city's history.

"We have a history in Miami of racial struggle with police," Suarez said.

The group ended the trip by laying flowers down at a makeshift memorial where Arthur McDuffie, a black man, had been killed by Miami Police 40 years ago.

The acquittal of the officers sparked the McDuffie riots.

Just further up the road, in Miami Shores, residents took part in a vigil that honored the life of George Floyd.

The death of George Floyd, a black man in Minneapolis who died after a white officer pressed his knee into his neck for nearly nine minutes, has sparked protests nationwide and called attention to issues such as police brutality and systemic racism.

Former Minneapolis officer Derek Chauvin was charged with second-degree murder, third-degree murder and manslaughter. Three other officers are charged with aiding and abetting.

Demonstrators, which included City of Miami Mayor Francis Suarez, drove throughout Liberty City and Little Havana - handing out thousands of flowers to activists and residents in the area.

Miami-Dade County Mayor, Carlos Gimenez, took to Twitter on Sunday to remind residents that a 9 p.m. countywide curfew was still in effect.

He added, that because of the curfew, beaches would remain closed.

Gimenez had moved the county's curfew to 9 p.m. late Saturday afternoon.

Earlier in the week, the countywide curfew had been set to midnight.

The curfew is effective every night until further notice.

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