MIAMI (WSVN) - Protesters took to the streets of South Florida for a second consecutive day of marches, Sunday, in response to the deadly police-involved shootings that took place across the nation last week.
In Miami-Dade County, nearly two dozen demonstrators chanted, “No justice, no peace” as they marched down Northwest Seventh Avenue from the Golden Glades Tri-Rail Station.
Protesters told 7News they are demanding change from law enforcement agencies, less than a week after two African-American men were killed by police officers in Louisiana and Minnesota. “That could have been any of us,” said organizer Marcin Meneles. “We’re paying them to protect us, but they’re killing us slowly.”
Demonstrator Ashley Mathis said unity will help bring about significant change. “We need to come together as one. We need to stop going against each other,” she said.
The turnout for Sunday’s protests was considerably lower than those that swept South Florida the day before.
On Saturday, hundreds with the Black Lives Matter movement blocked Biscayne Boulevard near Bayside Marketplace in Downtown Miami. Some participants were heard chanting, “We want justice, we want peace!”
Cellphone video shot from a high-rise captured protesters making their way down Biscayne Boulevard. The crowd marched to the MacArthur Causeway, stopping cars in both directions before being turned around.
Earlier on Saturday, hundreds rallied in Lauderhill and Fort Lauderdale, chanting, “Black lives matter” as they marched to the Broward County Jail.
“This is what democracy looks like,” protesters chanted.
These demonstrations took place less than 48 hours after, authorities said, five police officers in Dallas were gunned down by a sniper when a peaceful protest ended in chaos. The gunman, identified as U.S. Army veteran Micah Johnson, was killed after police sent in a remote-controlled robot with an explosive.
Activists in Sunday’s local marches said they just want their voices heard. “We want people to stand up for purpose,” said Meneles. “We’re not saying every cop is a bad cop. We’re not saying that, but we are saying that enough is enough.”
No injuries were reported during the protests.
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