Vigils, protests continue across U.S. in wake of deadly shootings - Action News
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Vigils, protests continue across U.S. in wake of deadly shootings

Protests and related events continued nationwide in the U.S. on Monday after the police shootings of black men in Baton Rouge, La., and suburban St. Paul, Minn., and the deadly sniper attack on police officers in Dallas.

Black Lives Matter demonstrations taking place nightly to protest police killings of black men

Loneisha Marchman, centre, and Curtis Sails, left, participate in a Black Lives Matter protest, held in response to the deaths of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile, in downtown Tampa on Monday, July 11, 2016. (Loren Elliott/Tampa Bay Times via Associated Press)

Protests and related events continued nationwide Monday after the police shootings of black men in Baton Rouge, La., and suburban St. Paul, Minn., and the deadly sniper attack on police officers in Dallas.

Louisiana

Protests in Baton Rouge were low-key on Monday night following a tumultuous weekend marked by arrests and standoffs between protesters and police in riot gear.

Protesters gathered in front of the convenience store where Sterling was fatally shot by police on July 5, sparking days of protests.

Jackie Silva, of Manvel, Texas, puts her fist up during live music at a night rally in honour of Alton Sterling, outside the Triple S Food mart in Baton Rouge, La., on Monday, July 11, 2016. (Gerald Herbert/Associated Press)

Outside the store, members of the Nation of Islam renewed calls for boycotts of businesses. Protesters have targeted a boycott of the Mall of Louisiana, a large mall in Baton Rouge.

Georgia

Authorities say they will enforce an 11 p.m. closing time at city parks in Atlanta as protests over police shootings of black men in Louisiana and Minnesota are expected to continue.

A statement issued Monday by the Atlanta Police Department says anyone staying in parks after the 11 p.m. closing time in city ordinances "will receive a warning." It also says that "failure to comply with the warning can result in an arrest."

Protesters march through an intersection in the Buckhead neighbourhood of Atlanta on Monday during a demonstration against the recent police shootings of black men. (David Goldman/Associated Press)

Demonstrators gathered for a fifth consecutive night, blocking the road outside a mall inBuckheadbefore marching to the governor's mansion.

MayorKasimReed said earlier Monday that about 15,000 people attended various protests this weekend in Atlanta. Reed said 14 people were arrested Saturday and Sunday by the Atlanta Police Department, and two were arrested by the Georgia State Patrol.

More than 1,000 people gathered in downtown Dallas to attend a candlelight vigil for the five police officers killed during a protest march.

Speakers at the Monday night vigil included police officials and friends of the slain officers. Portraits of the officers were propped up in front of the speaker's platform.

Vigil for fallen Dallas officers

8 years ago
Duration 1:23
DART chief says race issues must be addressed

Dallas Police Chief David Brown told the crowd that police officers are like superheroes.

Dallas Area Rapid Transit Chief J.D. Spiller says the attacks won't tear the city apart. Spiller, who said there must be discussions on race relations in America, also adds, "We must lead America in protecting and supporting our police officers."

Four Dallas police officers and one DART officer were killed in Thursday's attack.

Colorado

Police protests were calm and lightly attended in Denver on Monday, when a group of about 50 waved signs decrying police killings while a smaller group entered a fourth day of quietly mourning blacks killed by police in the last year.

The demonstrations outside the state capitol attracted a mixed-race crowd and supporters bringing water, fruit and sandwiches to support the efforts. A handful of police stood watch from about a block away.

The Denver observations were a marked contrast from charged police protests in some cities. None of the protesters attempted to block the streets during a busy lunchtime hour. Instead the protesters kept to a park to wave signs and mourn.

Protesters say they were inspired to protest by cases around the country of police killing young black men.

Illinois

Protesters marched peacefully through Chicago Loop in another day of demonstrations over police methods sparked by the fatal shooting to two black men by white officers in Minnesota and Louisiana.

Monday's demonstration was organized over social media by teenage girls who said they were determined to keep it peaceful.

Demonstrators met in a park along the Lake Michigan shore. Organizers said many protesters put tape over their mouths to symbolize the way police brutality silences African Americans.

The group then marched to a downtown plaza where they joined several hundred more protesters for a rally. The combined group, escorted by police, some on bicycle, then marched through the business district, disrupting traffic.

The demonstrations in Chicago in recent days have been relatively peaceful, though police scuffled with some protesters Saturday, resulting in 16 arrests.

Kentucky

Dozens of people attended a vigil in Louisville to protest the recent police killings of black men.

The Courier-Journalreports the "Breaking White Silence" event began at noon Monday outside Metro Louisville Police Department headquarters. It was organized by Louisville Showing Up for Racial Justice. A statement from the group says the gathering is part of a national effort to get more white people to voice concerns about racial justice.

The group said it will read the names of people killed by police and the names of the officers killed in Dallas.

Tennessee

Memphis officials are asking protesters who occupied a key bridge over the Mississippi River Sunday night to attend a meeting where they can voice their concerns.

Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland and Interim Police Chief Michael Rallings said Monday morning that the meeting would be held at 4 p.m. at Greater Imani Church in Memphis as a way to start a dialogue on how to unite the city.

Black Lives Matter protesters gather on the Hernando Desoto Bridge in Memphis, Tenn., Sunday, July 10. The demonstrators have been invited to attend a meeting on Monday where they can voice their concerns. (Jim Weber/The Commercial Appeal via Associated Press)

Traffic on Interstate 40 was blocked in both directions for hours after hundreds of angry Black Lives Matter protesters marched onto the bridge to show their anger about police killings of black people. Police in squad cars tried to stop them, but several hundred had already made their way up the ramp, and the crowd swelled to more than 1,000.

Rallings locked arms in solidarity with people marching off the bridge. Several hundred remained until riot police with shields slowly pushed them off.