Second day of protests follow night of violence and destruction In Tampa
Champs Sports was destroyed by fire and looting following demonstrations over the death of George Floyd in the University Square mall area on Friday, May 30, 2020
by Chip Weiner
Demonstrations continued for a second day following a night of violence and destruction in the University Square Mall area. Several businesses were destroyed and looted after the first day of protests following the death of George Floyd, an African-American man, who died in Powderhorn, a neighborhood south of downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota while in custody of the city Police Department.
The AT&T store on Fowler Avenue sits boarded up after being looted by rioters.
The glass is being repaired Sunday at K & G Fashion Superstore at University Sq., Mall after it was damaged during a riot the night before.
Graffiti marks the Sears auto department wall at University Sq., Mall. 112 is a reference to the police.
Champs Sports and Saigon Vietnamese Restaurant are destroyed from the mob the night before. They are seen reflected in the water left from fighting the fire
Cyrus Greene Park, Martin Luther King Blvd., 1:30 PM
Hundreds of protesters show up at Cyrus Greene Park to be heard and protest the death of George Floyd.
The first of two large demonstrations in Tampa on Sunday began at Cyrus Greene Park close to the College Hill area. A racially diverse crowd, many of whom donned masks as requested by organizers, wore t-shirts and carried signs reading Black Lives Matter and "I Can't Breath”, repeating the words of George Floyd from a well-publicized video prior to his death. Several hundred gathered at the park and listened to speakers discuss activism and criticize the current system and police. Others encouraged those in attendance to sign up to vote. The demonstration left the park and marched to the District 3 Tampa Police Department office where they continued speeches before returning.
According to some speakers, part of the solution is registering to vote
A racially diverse crowd participates in the demonstration, chanting phrases like "Black Lives Matter”, and “I can’t breath”.
The march stretches for several blocks as it leaves Cyrus Greene Park on 21st St. toward the District 3 Tampa Police Department several blocks away
Curtis Hixon to Tampa City Hall march- 5:00 P.M.
The second large demonstration of the day started at Curtis Hixon Park at 5:00 PM. Participants gathered along Ashley Drive before marching to City Hall. There was a strong police presence, both escorting the protesters as well as protecting government buildings in downtown. The group eventually left City Hall returning to Ashley Drive where they were blocked from marching up the entrance ramp to Interstate 275 after law enforcement deployed pepper spray. Zigzagging their way north on Florida Avenue, they again attempted to enter Interstate 275 and after being blocked they returned to Curtis Hixon. At this printing many of the protesters were threatening to ignore the citywide curfew that was to begin at 7:30 PM, as issued by Mary Jane Castor.
Picket signs and chants greet traffic as it travels down Ashley Drive in downtown Tampa at the start of the second protest of the day.
The demonstration leaves Curtis Hixon Park and moves toward City Hall. Tampa police officers can be seen in the foreground as they shut down traffic to protect demonstrators as they march.
A sign reading “When does it end” is seen in the foreground as hundreds of protesters demonstrate in front of Tampa City Hall.
Tampa Police officers stand guard in front of their downtown headquarters. Unseen in this photo are concrete barriers that were erected in front of the station for crowd control.
His sign reads “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter”, a quote from Dr. Martin Luther King.
After leaving City Hall protesters march down Ashley Boulevard in front of Rivergate Tower carrying signs and chanting protest slogans.
Law enforcement stands in silence as angry protestors berate them with insults and accuse them of being murderous. The scene repeats itself throughout the day.
Demonstrators return to Curtis Hixon Park following their march around the city