AKRON, Ohio — Protests erupted all across the state this weekend in response to the death of George Floyd. Protests turned violent in both Akron and Canton.

Akron's protest Saturday started peaceful, but ended with four arrests. Windows and doors were smashed at downtown businesses and police tear gassed and pepper sprayed large crowds. A similar situation unfolded in Canton Friday night, but on a smaller scale.

"One of the things that I hope folks would realize is that these protests are a response to generations of systemic injustice, they're a response to the ongoing kind of refusal by our state representatives to rein in police violence," said Cir L'Bert, a member of the Unitarian Universalist Church and Racial Justice Task Force in Akron.

The Racial Justice Task Force UUCA was one of many organizations in support of Saturday's walk for justice.

L'bert says there is a list of demands for the city to enact change.

"Things like using 25 percent of the police budget to go to prevention programs in the inner city rather than over policing and things like a community civilian review board that is made up of civilians from each ward that would essentially have some level of input on the discipline of road officers, police being removed from public schools replaced with mental health training community resource personnel."

In Canton, the Greater Stark County Urban League has a 10 point justice plan. The National Urban League is calling for widespread use of body and dashboard cameras, review and revision of police use of deadly force policies and a national comprehensive anti-racial profiling law.

"We're not going to change racism, overnight, but we can come together and begin to work to implement policies and practices that will begin that process. What are the policies and practices?Well they vary based on the community and what the needs really are," said Diane Robinson, president/CEO, Greater Stark County Urban League.

Both organizations say education is key. They hope civilians will seek out resources and learn about what's happening in their communities and understand the nationwide movement that aims to end racial injustices.

"Education is always critical to moving forward in any possible way, and so, it's the education of absolutely everyone, but it's also the acknowledgment so we can share the information. It's whether or not people are ready to take that information and act upon it," said Robinson.