(WWJ) Hundreds of people gathered in downtown Detroit Tuesday for another rally and protest against police brutality.
Protesters chanted "Hands up, don't shoot!" and "Black lives matter!" A sign on a car read: "A badge is not a license to kill."
While the killing of George Floyd by a police officer in Minneapolis has been the catalyst, protesters say they're demonstrating against decades of unjust treatment of people of color by law enforcement.
The event began with speakers outside Detroit Police Headquarters at 4 p.m., before protesters marched to Campus Martius Park in the heart of downtown, and then toward Gratiot Ave., turning onto Monroe St.
On a hot afternoon around 90 degrees, WWJ's Vickie Thomas reported the crowd was nonviolent, as organizers passed out bottled water.
"So far everything's been peaceful," Thomas said, a little after 5 p.m., estimating there were as many as 2,000 people marching at that point.
Thomas said some people were wearing masks to help slow the spread of the coronavirus, while others were not.
While a police blocked traffic for marchers, other than that, Thomas said: "Surprisingly, there hasn't been a whole lot of police presence here."
With a nightly curfew in effect from 8 p.m. until 5 a.m. , Detroit police will then be deployed to clear the streets. City officials say anyone who isn't going to or from work, directly to or from a businesses to buy goods or services, or to handle an emergency must go home at 8 p.m.
This comes after around 40 people were arrested for violating the curfew Monday night, according to Detroit Police Chief James Craig. Although, the chief said it was learned were headed to their cars were then released. Sunday night there were more than 100 arrests, officials said. Police deployed tear gas and rubber bullets to break up the crowd.
Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan said the ongoing curfew is necessary as the city "remains at risk" from those who want to cause trouble and instigate violence.
"We have to be not under any illusions," the mayor said at a Tuesday press briefing. "You just look at what's happening around this country — there are people intentionally sewing division and destruction. There is no question about it."