MIAMI (WSVN) - Dozens of protesters gathered at the Torch of Friendship before marching through downtown Miami and kneeling in front of the state attorney’s office to rally against police brutality.
Demonstrators marched to Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle’s office, along Northwest 12th Avenue, on Friday.
“I’m out here to support Black Lives Matter and to support change in our community,” Alberto Norales said.
The demonstrators said their protest will help bring an end to police brutality and recognize families who have been victimized because of police brutality.
“I’m here because my son was a victim of police brutality in 2012,” Amalia Villafne said. “My son was shot in the back by a Miami-Dade Police officer, and we want justice, and I demand answers from Katherine Fernandez Rundle. After almost four years, my son killed himself because he had a lot of pain.”
Just after 5 p.m., the group could be seen walking along Northwest Eighth Street just past Northwest Second Avenue, and the protest continues to grow amid sticky, hot weather outside.
Francois Alexandre was among the people who marched on Friday.
He spoke about his encounter with the police and shared a photo of him following his arrest. He supported his story by showing surveillance video of his rough arrest after Game 7 of the 2013 NBA Finals and the Miami Heat’s championship win.
“I was pushed in the alcove, and I was brutally attacked for more than about a minute and a half,” he said.
Alexandre said charges against him were dropped once the surveillance footage was revealed. He also spoke about a pending civil suit against City of Miami Police.
“The charge that they were giving to me was incite the riots and resisting arrest without violence,” Alexandre said. “I actually ended up spending more time in a hospital than spending about two hours in jail.”
Miami Police said they cannot comment at the moment.
7Skyforce hovered over the protesters at around 5 p.m. walking along the street carrying banners saying “Defund the Police.”
“We want to stand in solidarity with the Black community to end the horror that is police brutality in the United States of America,” a protester said.
When the demonstrators arrived at the state attorney’s office at around 6 p.m., some could be seen kneeling while holding the banners while others walked to the front doors of the building chanting.
Although the building was closed, protesters sat outside in front of the front doors.
When the protesters returned to the Torch of Friendship, they took control of Biscayne Boulevard for a few minutes. The demonstration ended, and the group dispersed at around 9 p.m.
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