Hundreds of demonstrators marched up and down Glenstone and Battlefield in Springfield Saturday to protest racism and excessive force by law enforcement. Additional protests occurred on Friday downtown and again Sunday near Battlefield Mall.
Protests across the nation follow the death of an African American man in Minneapolis, George Floyd, who died in police custody after a white police officer held his knee to Floyd’s neck for several minutes.
Saturday’s protesters in Springfield carried signs and megaphones. Cars with the words “GEORGE FLOYD” painted on their windows honked.
Although many wore face masks, there was not much social distancing.
Janessa Crockett, one protester, said the demonstration shows Springfield’s black residents they have allies.
“This is very important to have this and show solidarity amongst the different people and races that are here today,” she said.
A crowd of protesters blocked the intersection, and cars couldn’t get through for several minutes.
Police diverted traffic away from the gathering, so the group marched back and forth on Battlefield for the next several hours. The day before the protests, Springfield police chief Paul Williams, called the actions of the Minneapolis police officers “egregious and inexcusable” in a letter to Springfield residents.
