CLEVELAND, Ohio– There are protests happening across the country right now for George Floyd, and here in Cleveland, it’s no different. In fact, black lives matter Cleveland says for them it’s personal—the organization started five years ago after a Cleveland police officer killed Tamir Rice. Protesters say they stand in solidarity with those across the country, calling for justice for George Floyd.

A call for justice could be heard across downtown Cleveland today. Hundreds chanted “Black Lives Matter” and “Justice for George”, in remembrance of George Floyd, a 46-year-old black man who died after being arrested...and a police officer in Minneapolis, Minnesota knelt on his neck. Some protesters say they showed up because they felt they had to do more than post on social media about Floyd’s death.

“It’s really easy to just share something on Facebook or like a post or something, but I think it’s important to show up and be present and put work in for our friends” Emma Jochum of Cleveland says.

Others like Lotus Wilson say protesting is just the start.

“First of all, the people that gathered out here. We have to be the action because we are the people. we have to be able to go before our elected officials and display our concern and have them act on it because they are in positions of power, to be able to hold, law enforcement, accountable for what they’ve done,” She said.

Wilson says the issue of inequality and racism is not just a “black issue” and she’s glad to see so many people of different backgrounds bringing attention to police brutality.

“It’s the people that you see surrounding here. it is the young people, the old people, males, females people of every socio-economic background …it is showing to these officials in positions of power that we are tired, we are fed up,” Wilson said.

Other protesters agree that a protest is just the start. Pastor Ian Cox and pastor Chelton C. Flanagan say they want to see those responsible for Floyd’s death held accountable, and then they want action, in the form of systematic change, that they can be a part of.

“This is just the beginning of this entire thing, just to let them know that we stand in solidarity. To let them know that they cannot go continue. and afterward, I believe that this kind of showing needs to happen with our county commissioners, our police chiefs, our mayor’s so that we can also be heard at the table with them so that when they decide to enact laws, there will be some change,” Cox said.

“We have to continue the movement, and that’s what a movement is…. continuing to do to work—the progress to work out the things that need to be worked out as relates to the injustice. We can continue to move in a different direction. Too often, its a moment and that’s done. We have to operate in a movement!” Chelton says.

It has been reported that shortly after the spectrum news 1 crews and most of the crowd left downtown Cleveland- the demonstration turned violent. Cleveland.com reports that two police cars were set on fire and windows to a business were broken. The crowd gathering downtown has continued to grow this evening. Police deployed tear gas and then threw smoke canisters to disperse the crowd.

It has been reported that shortly after Spectrum News One crews and most of the crowd left downtown Cleveland, the demonstration turned violent.

The city of Cleveland has enacted a proclamation of civil emergency for the purposes of curfew beginning today, at 8 p.m., and continuing to 8 a.m. tomorrow due to violence and unrest. The curfew will continue until June 1st.  The curfew will affect the central business district.