MIAMI (WSVN) - A protest calling for police reform resulted in a police incident when officers arrested one person during a Black Lives Matter march held in Miami’s Wynwood neighborhood.
7News cameras captured the tense moments when police apprehended the male protester and confiscated his U.S. and Black Lives Matter flags, at around 4:30 p.m., Monday.
The incident touched off a tense exchange between officers and demonstrators.
Several protesters were seen recording officers with their smartphones next to a marcher wearing a Guy Fawkes mask.
A woman who said she witnessed the arrest, expressed her frustration.
“They are out for him. They want to grab people little by little as they can,” she said.
Police said the protester who was taken into custody was obstructing the roadway, but the witness said that did not happen.
“He was on the side. I hope you saw that he wasn’t blocking the traffic or anything, and they grabbed him,” she said.
Cellphone video captured that protester shortly before his arrest as he waved his flags while walking near the sidewalk.
Prior to this isolated spark of tension, the Labor Day protest had been peaceful.
Members of the group Justice 4 Miami and others affiliated with the Black Lives Matter movement began gathering outside Panther Coffee, located along Northwest Second Avenue, near 24th Street, in the 2 p.m. hour.
Members of Justice 4 Miami addressed the crowd who showed up at the iconic coffee shop before they began the march.
“It is our duty to fight for our freedom,” said a speaker.
“I am here standing in solidarity with every family that has been a victim to these crimes and these police brutality issues,” said community activist Crystal Foster. “We are tired, and we want accountability.”
“No longer will I drop blood on the ground and think that a seed of animosity is not going to grow,” said another speaker. “I’m hurt. You disappoint me.”
Dozens of potesters marched around the neighborhood before they circled back toward Panther Coffee.
“What do we want?” chanted a man.
“Justice!” replied demonstrators.
“When do we want it?” said the man.
“Now!” said demonstrators.
Part of the group appeared to splinter off and gathered at a vacant lot between 23rd and 24th streets where a rally was held.
Participants said they want to see justice for Jacob Blake and the late George Floyd, two Black men who garnered national headlines following their encounters with police in Kenosha, Wisconsin, and Minneapolis, Minnesota, respectively.
Organizers said one of the reasons they held the march on Monday is because it marks the 100th day since Floyd’s death.
“We’re commemorating that because, while that has driven change throughout our country, it hasn’t been enough in Miami,” said Eleazar Menendez with Justice 4 Miami.
There were initially between 40 and 60 people who took part in the march, but that number appeared to grow before the event wrapped up.
Hours later, restaurants and other businesses in Wynwood welcomed customers before the countywide 10 p.m. curfew, in what would have felt like a normal holiday weekend night before the coronavirus pandemic.
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