Phoenix Police Declare George Floyd Protest 'Unlawful Assembly'

PHOENIX — A downtown Phoenix rally Thursday to protest the police custody death of George Floyd — the black man who pleaded for air as a white Minneapolis police officer held his knee to his throat — was for the most part peaceful until late in the evening when police declared an unlawful assembly and cleared the area.

Dozens of protesters remained on the scene after police cleared the area in the 1700-1900 blocks between West Washington and Jefferson. Interstate 10 ramps were closed at Seventh Street by the Arizona Department of Transportation.

Police used a megaphone to close the area after getting reports of "criminal activity" among protesters and said anyone who refused to leave would be subject restricted.

More than 50 protesters remained in the restricted area well past 12:30 a.m. The Arizona Republic reported rocks and water bottles were thrown at police and at least one police car window was broken. Department of Public Safety and Phoenix police responded with pepper spray, rubber bullets other nonlethal force.

The protest was organized by Phoenix activist Jarrett Maupin and Black Lives Matter Arizona to call for the arrest of Derek Chauvin, the Minneapolis police officer who used held his knee on Floyd's neck for several minutes after Floyd was accused of trying to use counterfeit $20 bill at a grocery store.

A cell phone video shows Floyd cooperating with police and saying "I can't breathe"until his limp body is taken away in an ambulance.

Chauvin has since been fired. Three additional officers who were involved in the failed arrest that killed Floyd also were fired. They are Thomas Lane, Tou Thao and J Alexander Kueng.

Phoenix police have not said if anyone was arrested or detained. Another protest is planned Friday evening.