This is a list of protests that took place in Michigan in 2020 following the murder of George Floyd.
Locations
Ann Arbor Hundreds of protesters gathered on the central square of the University of Michigan on May 30, with a series of activists and community members using a megaphone to speak about racial injustice and police violence. That day and for several days beforehand, protesters also marched through the streets of Ann Arbor. These protests were related to an event in neighboring Ypsilanti on May 26, in which a police officer had been filmed punching a local woman and then taking her into custody, where she was held for several days.
Bad Axe On June 5, over 200 protesters showed up in front of the Huron County building to raise awareness for the Black Lives Matter protests occurring nationwide and worldwide following Floyd's murder. Bad Axe police chief David Rothe and Huron County sheriff Kelly Hanson were seen marching alongside the protesters. Police presence was able to maintain peace despite numerous armed individuals showing up to oppose the protest until crowds started to disperse at around 6 pm. The event, coordinated by multiple local and national civic groups, was described as being well organized, peaceful, and focused.
Bay City On Wednesday, June 3, hundreds of protesters marched outside the Bay County Law Enforcement Center in downtown Bay City. Bay City Public Safety Director Michael J. Cecchini was invited to march alongside the protesters, but he declined, stating that police in his department do not join marches, regardless of the cause. Cecchini explained that he received an email invitation from the protest organizer and replied to it stating that he wanted to first meet with the organizer prior to accepting the invitation. However, Cecchini claimed he did not receive any response.
Cassopolis About 100 people marched from Clisbee Park to the police station on Broadway at 3 pm on June 13.
Cheboygan Over a hundred people demonstrated at a park on June 4.
Dearborn On June 7, hundreds of demonstrators surrounded the Dearborn Historical Museum in Dearborn to peacefully protest against racism and police brutality. Most protesters wore masks to protect against the spread of COVID-19. The crowd listened to speakers prior to marching down Brady Street and across Michigan Avenue while chanting "No justice, no peace". Demonstrators also celebrated the removal of the statue of former Dearborn mayor Orville Hubbard, known for his support of racism and segregation. The statue's removal came days after the statue had a Black Lives Matter T-shirt placed over it. Moving forward, protesters look forward to removing his name from streets, ballrooms, and buildings nearby. Speakers at the protest included Debbie Dingell, the U.S. representative for Michigan's 12th congressional district, Rashida Tlaib, the U.S. representative for Michigan's 13th congressional district, and Abdullah Hammoud, the state representative for Michigan's 15th district.
Detroit Hundreds protested in downtown Detroit starting on May 29. Some protesters were seen throwing items at police officers and taunting them. At least 61 people were arrested. On the night of May 29 an unknown assailant fired shots into a vehicle downtown around 11:30 pm; a 21-year-old Eastpointe man in the vehicle was hit and died from his injuries at a local hospital. It was initially thought that this man was 19 years old and that the assailant fired from a vehicle; this was later proven otherwise. On Sunday night, mayor Mike Duggan imposed a curfew from 8 pm to 5 am Monday and more than 100 people were arrested on Gratiot Avenue. On June 1, a ten-mile march was attended by several hundred protesters that spanned from downtown Detroit to the city's southwest boundary. Protesters ignored Detroit's 8 pm curfew with authorities taking no actions against protesters, allowing the demonstrations to end peacefully.
Subsequent protests continued each day afterward, remaining largely peaceful. By the time the 8 pm curfew ended on June 8, an estimated 400 protesters in Detroit had been arrested. The curfew was not renewed. On June 28, two protesters were violently thrown from a Detroit Police Department SUV that they had climbed on top of, and its rear window was also smashed in.Protesters climb onto Detroit police SUV, thrown off as vehicle speeds away , Detroit Free Press, June 28, 2020.
On August 22, forty people were arrested while protesting Operation Legend in Downtown Detroit. Police also used tear gas and pepper spray on the crowd of about 100 people.Dozens tear-gassed, arrested on Woodward Avenue amid Downtown Detroit protest WDIV, August 23, 2020
Flint Hundreds of protesters shut down Miller Road in the Flint Township on May 30. Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson spoke to the crowd saying he wanted to stand in solidarity with the protesters. On June 1, hundreds gathered for a peace rally at Flint City Hall.
Gladwin On June 4, around 75 people peacefully marched through downtown Gladwin to support Black Lives Matter and George Floyd. Gladwin County Sheriff Mike Shea spoke in support of the event's organizers, but criticized the growing negative view of cops.
Grand Rapids
Thousands of demonstrators marched in downtown Grand Rapids on Saturday, May 30. The protesters initially gathered at Rosa Parks Circle for a silent protest while other demonstrators moved to the headquarters of the Grand Rapids Police Department where interactions intensified. That same day, Grand Rapids police chief Eric Payne spoke to protesters stating "I've heard you my entire career. Black lives do matter", with clashes later intensifying with protesters beginning to throw objects at police. Riot police dispersed demonstrators with tear gas and flash bangs. A viral video from the protests showed Grand Rapids Police pepper spraying a protester and then immediately firing a tear gas canister into his shoulder. Into the early morning hours of May 31, looting and fires began to spread through downtown Grand Rapids. Mayor of Grand Rapids Rosalynn Bliss enforced a 7pm-5am curfew for the city beginning that day until June 2, calling for support from the Michigan National Guard. Citizens also arrived downtown during the day to assist with clean-up efforts following the riots. Only a few protesters were arrested on Sunday for violating the city's curfew.
For the first time in Kent County history, prosecutors began to file riot charges on June 1 against particular persons accused of breaking windows and stealing property in the riot of previous days. By June 3, a total of seven persons had been charged, six of them with riot offenses. Protesters downtown grew in numbers over time that day until about 200 people peacefully confronted the Michigan National Guard, Michigan State Police and Grand Rapids Police near Van Andel Arena. Grand Rapids police chief Eric Payne spoke to protesters that day but did not amplify his voice, leaving when protesters asked him to join the demonstration, with Payne later saying the protest was not permitted by city officials. Some protesters would later violate the city's 7 pm curfew and subsequently chased by authorities. In total, 12 people were arrested for violating curfew.
After the curfew ended on June 2, city manager Mark Washington called for the extension of the curfew, though all Grand Rapids officials except for City Commissioner Nathaniel Moody ignored the proposal. Grand Rapids officials said it was time to trust protesters to demonstrate peacefully, with City Commissioner Kurt Reppart stating "I’m really not interesting in arresting people who are protesting peacefully".
Houghton On June 3, hundreds of demonstrators of all ages and races marched across the Portage Lake Lift Bridge in Houghton while chanting "No justice, no peace", "Black Lives Matter", and "Say his name, George Floyd" in protest of police brutality. The protest was entirely peaceful, and organizers worked with local police departments to make sure the proceedings went on safely and civilly; the police handed out flowers as a peace offering.
Kalamazoo Two protests on May 30 in Kalamazoo brought in thousands of protesters with both protests shutting down major traffic intersections and were peaceful. On June 1, peaceful protests occurred into the evening. Vandalism then began to occur overnight, damaging a number of businesses in the city. Kalamazoo officials established a 7 pm curfew on June 2. Protests occurred again that day, with about 100 protesters staying past the 7 pm curfew to confront a National Guard barricade on Michigan Avenue. Assistant Chief Vernon Coakley Jr. and City Manager Jim Ritsema spoke with protesters for about forty minutes after the curfew, attempting to have them march away from the site with no success. Tear gas was then deployed and the protest dispersed, with Coakley later stating that he "felt awful" for firing chemical agents upon a peaceful demonstration.
On August 15, members of the right-wing group Proud Boys clashed with counter-protesters in Kalamazoo, with police carrying out nine arrests, including a local newspaper reporter, who was later released without facing charges.Right-wing group, counter-protesters clash in Michigan Associated Press, August 15, 2020 The city's Police Chief Karianne Thomas said of the protest, "The Proud Boys came to town and completed their mission by creating a decisive situation for the community then leaving, hopefully with the chaos continuing, which is their mode of operation".Police chief says Proud Boys completed their mission by causing chaos in downtown Kalamazoo MLive.com, August 16, 2020 The city's response to the protest has been criticized since only locals were arrested, none of them members of the Proud Boys.‘None of them saw a single repercussion,’ counter-protester says of Proud Boys who rallied in Kalamazoo MLive.com, August 18, 2020 City commission members and residents called for resignations and firings during a 6.5 hour meeting on August 17 then went into the early morning hours of August 18.Kalamazoo City commissioners scrutinize police response to Proud Boys visit MLive.com, August 18, 2020Citizens call for new leadership in Kalamazoo after ‘failure’ during Proud Boys rally MLive.com, August 18, 2020
Lake Orion On June 7, hundreds of protesters marched through downtown Lake Orion in support of the Black Lives Matter movement. One of the protesters, who was interviewed by a local publication as part of its coverage on the protest, was later indicted in a kidnapping plot against Governor Gretchen Whitmer.
Lansing and East Lansing
Several thousand people gathered at the Michigan State Capitol in Lansing on May 31. About a thousand of them marched south from the Capitol, and the east to East Lansing where they protested outside the East Lansing Police Department. About 100 protesters then returned to downtown Lansing. As tensions rose in Lansing, the city enacted a curfew which remained in effect until 5:00 am on June 1. On June 2 a group of about 250 gathered at the East Lansing City Hall to protest the murder of George Floyd and two separate incidents where a white East Lansing police officer was accused of using excessive force against black men. On June 6, protesters called on Lansing mayor Andy Schor to resign "over inaction on police abuses".
Lincoln Park and Allen Park