Protests continued for a sixth straight day across the Dallas-Fort Worth area as the world responded to the death of George Floyd while he was in Minneapolis police custody
Early Wednesday morning, Pope Francis called for reconciliation across the United States and directly mentioned Floyd's death.
"We cannot tolerate or turn a blind eye to racism and exclusion in any form and yet claim to defend the sacredness of every human life," he said during his weekly General Audience.
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His message followed a massive march in Houston the day before that saw 60,000 people converge on Houston City Hall to remember Floyd's life and call for institutional change.
Hundreds of protesters participated in marches and demonstrations in cities across North Texas on Tuesday as leaders called for peace and change ahead of the demonstrations.
Gov. Greg Abbott visited Dallas on Tuesday to address the protests and violence that have occurred in recent days. He also discussed the state's response.
"We will not be asking the U.S. military to come into the state of Texas because we know that Texans can take care of Texans," Abbott said.
Some of the demonstrations held on Wednesday, June 3:
- 12 p.m.: #SayTheirNames Protest at the Freedman's Memorial Cemetery in Dallas with Texas State Rep. Lorraine Birabil to "bring light to and to honor those who lost their lives through an excessive use of force by law enforcement."
- 1 p.m.: Free Them All Car Rally to demand mass release of incarcerated individuals. Registration link here.
- 2 p.m.: The Conversation Rally at Dallas City Hall "to spark a clear conversation on what and how we want to approach getting results," according to a Facebook event.
- 4 p.m.: The Justice for George Floyd! March started at Haggard Park in Plano before marching to police headquarters for a protest, a Facebook event said.
- 6 p.m.: A nightly protest in Denton started at the police department before a car caravan and march moved to the Denton Courthouse-on-the-Square, per a Facebook event.
Follow along below for live updates throughout the day:
8:56 p.m.: The Hennepin County Medical Examiner's Office released George Floyd's full autopsy results. It ruled his manner of death as a homicide and stated the cause of death was "cardiopulmonary arrest complicating law enforcement subdual, restraint, and neck compression."
The autopsy also found he tested positive for COVID-19 in April.
8:21 p.m.: The protest in Fort Worth is winding down, but organizers say they will be back at the Fort Worth City Hall Thursday at 1 p.m.
8:08 p.m.: Fort Worth police officer Tracy Carter posted a plea on his Facebook page asking for people to "share a moment of Reflection for George Floyd who was murdered." on June 4. He said members of the Fort Worth Police Department will do the same.
Carter asked that the "moment of reflection" last for 8 minutes and 46 seconds, starting at 1 p.m.
7:32 p.m.: A listening session event is happening at the MLK Community Center in Dallas outside the curfew zone.
7:19 p.m.: Protests in Dallas have wrapped up, as organizers made sure to leave before the 7 p.m. curfew started.
6:46 p.m.: In Downtown Dallas, officers took a knee and protesters cheered.
6:27 p.m.: A group of protesters were marching down Main Street in Downtown Dallas.
6:01 p.m.: In downtown Fort Worth, a large crowd gathered to protest. A prayer vigil is set for 7 p.m.
5:09 p.m.: Dallas police estimate that there are about 500 people in the crowd at Dealey Plaza.
4:26 p.m.: Hundreds gather in Dealey Plaza and sing "Lift Every Voice."
3:08 p.m.: In Fort Worth, Mayor Betsy Price joined protesters who were at the courthouse.
3 p.m.: Protesters at the Conversation Rally in front of Dallas City Hall took a knee after several people addressed the crowd during an open mic. Dallas City Council Member Omar Narváez then addressed the crowd.
PHOTOS: Protesters rally in front of Dallas City Hall
2:20 p.m.: Protesters have gathered in front of Dallas City Hall for the Conversation Rally hosted by Not My Son.
1:20 p.m.: Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison will charge three other officers in George Floyd's death while in Minneapolis police custody, Sen. Amy Klobuchar announced on Twitter.
Ellison will also upgrade the murder charge against Derek Chauvin, the Minneapolis police officer who held his knee to George Floyd's neck. The charge against him will now be second-degree murder. He had previously been charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter in the case
If found guilty, sentencing guidelines in Minnesota recommend 12.5 years for unintentional second-degree murder and go up to 25.5 years for intentional second-degree murder.
1 p.m.: State Rep. Lorraine Birabil, D–Dallas, held a small vigil at noon Wednesday on the historic grounds of the Freedman’s Memorial Cemetery in Dallas – where some of the city’s first black residents are buried.
She invited African American men from several different professions– attorneys, entrepreneurs and medical professionals– to join her in a silent protest. They held signs with the names of black men and women who’ve been killed by police across the country.
Birabil held a sign with George Floyd’s name.
Birabil says her father was arrested by Dallas police in 2013. She said she called 911 when a former white business partner of her father’s was trespassing on their property. She said when police arrived, they took the trespasser’s statement first. She said police “assaulted” her father and both she and him were arrested.
She said it was only after filing a federal lawsuit that she learned that a use-of-force complaint she filed against the officer had been dismissed.
12:45 p.m.: In an emotion-filled statement, Dak Prescott announced via Instagram earlier Tuesday morning that he would pledge $1 million "to improve our police training and address systemic racism through education and advocacy in our country."
12:30 p.m.: During the #SayTheirNames Protest, demonstrators stood across the Freedman's Memorial Cemetery holding up signs with the names of people who have died while in police custody across the U.S.
More on WFAA:
- Barack Obama to address Floyd's death Wednesday
- Minnesota Dept. of Human Rights files civil rights charge against Minneapolis police
- Fifth day of protests in North Texas sees curfew zone extensions, more police and protester dialogue
- A candid conversation with black teens about their views on police brutality and race
- SMU professor's tweet about white privilege goes viral