DAVIE, FLA. (WSVN) - Protesters gathered along the northbound lanes of U.S. 441 in Davie to continue to speak out against police brutality in the wake of George Floyd’s death.
The march continued into the evening as rain fell.
The protest ended at 9 p.m.
U.S. 441 had been closed down between Interstate 595 and Griffin Road but has since reopened.
Kerlin Louis, an organizer, said, “I’m a mom of two boys, and I don’t want them to grow up in a world where they have to feel like it’s not OK to be who they are.”
Protesters laid on the ground for eight minutes and 46 seconds with their hands behind their back chanting “I can’t breathe.”
Tamara James, the Dania Beach Commissioner, said, “I’ve been talking to my son about racism since he’s been 3. Often times he asks me, ‘Mom, why don’t white people like us?’ Then I have to have a more thorough conversation that it’s not that white people don’t like us, it’s that racism exists in our country.”
One mother told her 8-year-old son he cannot afford to make one mistake at the hands of police.
Johnny Martinez, a protester, said, “I’m here to march with everybody for justice for George Floyd. Not only him, but other people who’ve been victims to police brutality. I’m saying enough is enough, and it’s time for me to march with my people, get together and find a solution for this problem without violence.”
Jamel Irving, a protester, said, “They’re here to see up close and personal what it takes to fight.”
Nicholas Irving said, “I’ve been sad because we’re being killed, and I really don’t like it.”
One man over a megaphone said, “I’m angry with you, and I’m angry for you, but I’m here, and I will always be here. I will always be here to fight for anybody who’s in an injustice.”
Former boxer Evander Holyfield appeared at the protest, and said, “It’s very important for me to be here because as somebody who worked hard, you have to realize the golden rule. Do onto others as you want them to do onto you. It’s for everybody. Everybody gets threatened. At some point in time, everybody’s in the area that they weren’t invited to be in.”
When asked of his thoughts of the local support for the greater cause, Holyfield said, “It’s great. I’m honored because more people of different races, supporting other people, it’s a whole different time. I think this is the perfect time. People come together to stick with each other. You look at how different everybody is and they all believe the same thing.”
Holyfield also said, “I feel good that we are coming together. When we have a situation like this we do come together. That’s how things get better.”
The demonstrators called out the names of people who have died at the hands of the police, Friday afternoon.
One family from Lauderhill with two young children felt compelled to bring their children to the gathering to teach them important life lessons.
One woman who helped organize the event said her 11-year-old child asked her repeatedly about the killing of Floyd.
Another speaker talked about David Dorn, a retied St. Louis police officer killed after responding to an alarm in a pawn shop.
The protest continued on to Interstate 595 and then back to U.S. 441.
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