Protesters began to gather in West Hollywood at noon on Wednesday and well into the evening to demonstrate against police violence.
After nearly a week of rallies sparked by the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, sometimes peaceful and other times marked by looting, more than 2,700 people had been arrested across L.A. County, including West Hollywood, as of Tuesday. Most arrests were on suspicion of “failure to disperse” or for curfew violations.
A curfew is set to kick in at 9 p.m. in West Hollywood Wednesday and will last until sunrise, according to city officials.
Sky5 was overhead as hundreds appeared to be peacefully marching near La Cienega Boulevard and Santa Monica Boulevard. The demonstrators blocked traffic at the intersection just before 1 p.m. and each got down on one knee and took a moment of silence.
They then began to move through the streets at 1 p.m., passing by the local Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department station.
“We’re all human. We all bear responsibilities,” one protester told KTLA.
Many that were gathered said they were a part of the LGBTQ community and were marching in solidarity with the black community. Earlier Wednesday, the organization that puts on the L.A. Pride parade announced it would hold a peaceful protest march on June 14 in response to racial injustice, in solidarity with Black Lives Matter.
Another protester told KTLA he was marching to be one the “right side of history.”
Demonstrators that were gathered in the middle of an intersection, blocking traffic, quickly moved out of the way to allow an ambulance to pass through just before 1:20 p.m.
The massive group took a knee in front of Nation Guard troops and other law enforcement officials.
A line of deputies blocked access going southbound La Cienega Boulevard around 2 p.m.
Demonstrators were marching near Santa Monica Boulevard and North La Brea Avenue just before 2:30 p.m.
Another group of about 200 people marched near Highland Avenue and Melrose Avenue in Hollywood at the same time.
They reached Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street at about 3 p.m.
The demonstrations appeared to remain peaceful as they continued past 5:30 p.m.
“Stop, think and support the correct way, not the inappropriate way,” Nick of Watts said to KTLA while marching. “We’re a human race. We got to start acting like it.”
Check back for updates to this developing story.
