Less than 24 hours after shooting near 4th Precinct, a night of peace
Protests at the 4th Precinct took on a peaceful and festive tone Tuesday night, a day after gunfire near the north Minneapolis police station sent five people to the hospital.
A benefit concert that lasted for several hours ended with a rap by the president of the Minneapolis NAACP, Nekima Levy-Pounds.
"We out here in the community
We didn't go very far
We standing up for what?
Justice for Jamar"
Levy-Pounds wished demonstrators a safe journey home, but few left immediately, energized by the music and dance.
Create a More Connected Minnesota
MPR News is your trusted resource for the news you need. With your support, MPR News brings accessible, courageous journalism and authentic conversation to everyone - free of paywalls and barriers. Your gift makes a difference.
Here are just a few of the hundreds of people who braved late November temperatures for another night of demonstrations:
Epoch Williams
Tuesday was the fifth day at the 4th Precinct for Epoch Williams of north Minneapolis.
"You know I live in a world that doesn't want me, I live in a society that doesn't care about me, and it's been that way forever," he said.
Williams said he comes to the 4th Precinct to confront his fears.
"You're afraid to get pulled over by the police, you're afraid to go to jail, you might not come home," he said. "You might get pulled over, and you might end up dead. That's why we're here."
Selena, Jazmine and Jalyn McKnight
Selena McKnight brought her daughters Jazmine and Jalyn to the protest.
"We want to represent the boy who died," said 8-year-old Jazmine.
Jazmine's mom said they live just down the road from where Jamar Clark was fatally shot by police Nov. 15.
"We pass by here all the time," McKnight said. "On both sides of the road, you know somebody lost their life, regardless of their story, or their side, somebody lost their life."
She didn't know Clark or his family, but she plans to take her daughters to his funeral.
Greg McRoy
North Minneapolis resident Greg McRoy said the evening was beautiful, despite the shootings the night before.
"We've had some idiots that come out here, but it goes with all the struggles," he said. "Got some foolishness that goes one when you're trying to prevail and be successful and take over something that needs to be taken over, like this community."
McRoy says he's out here to spread the message that all lives matter.
"It's not just for Jamar Clark, it's for Trayvon Martin, all that had injustice done to them ... that all lives matter."