Black Lives Matter protests break out around the U.S.

Events were held in several key cities in support of the #BlackLivesMatter movement, which campaigns against police brutality against blacks.

Memphis, Tenn.

A huge crowd of Black Lives Matter supporters marched through the city and eventually closed down the I-40 bridge Sunday night.

According to reports, the rally began at FedExForum at 6 p.m. Central time with hundreds of people. The crowd then moved to police headquarters where more people joined.

The marchers attempted to get onto the I-40 bridge, but were blocked by police. They then got onto the bridge via the exit ramp and traffic eventually was forced to a standstill. The I-40 bridge was closed for hours.

When the protestors left the bridge, they headed toward Beale Street. Police surrounded both the rally and march the entire time.

Mayor Jim Strickland was criticized for not being alongside the marchers. He instead met with his senior leadership team following the protest to discuss ways to make the community safer.

“The NAACP stands with and fully supports the rights of The Black Lives Matter movement and all citizens to gather in peaceful protest. The peaceful gathering demonstrates our awareness and disdain with the poor economic policies of our city and its priorities as well as the national sentiment towards injustices that permeate the disproportional contact between law enforcement and people of color,” NAACP Memphis Chapter President Keith Norman said in a statement.

At one point, Memphis Interim Police Director Michael Rallings, who is black, locked arms with marchers.

Oklahoma City

Thousands of Oklahomans participated in Sunday’s march in Oklahoma City, which lasted for three hours.

According to the Oklahoma City Police Department, an estimated 2,000 to 2,5000 people began their walk at 5:30 p.m. Central time and was overall “very positive and uneventful with few incidents.”

“Several hugs, handshakes and ‘thank you’ were exchanged as well as pictures with police officers. We are proud to have been able to protect the 1st Amendment Rights of the participants of today’s demonstration without incidents,” Capt. Paco Balderrama, the department’s Public Information Officer, said in a statement.

Washington, D.C.

Black Lives Matter activists were all around Washington, D.C. throughout the weekend, including in front the White House Friday night.

One event was dubbed “Beyond the Hashtag,” hosted by the National Black United Front. Nearly a dozen other organizations, movements and coalitions “co-sponsored” the event, including the Washington Bar Association Young Lawyers Division and the NAACP DC Branch.

Hundreds convened at the African American Civl War Memorial and Museum to hold a vigil for black men and women slain by police over the years Sunday afternoon.

Protestors were also seen walking through the Chinatown and H Street neighborhoods throughout the weekend, and all events were reported as peaceful.

D.C. was one of the cities that required all police patrols to be conducted with at least two officers, after the deadly attack on law enforcement officers in Dallas last week.

San Diego

San Diego’s rally began early Sunday morning at the Convention Center.

According to Cassie Perando, Black Lives Matter San Diego organizer, the event “went smoothly.” About 100 people took to the streets in support of the movement.

According to Perando, San Diego Police Department officers escorted the marchers and took pictures with them after as a sign of solidarity.

“A special thanks to San Diego Police Department for their support and collaboration. We set a precedent for successful and peaceful demonstrations today — much love everyone!” she said in a Facebook post.

Orlando

Several thousand demonstrators gathered at the Walt Disney Amphitheater in Orlando on Sunday night, marching downtown and chanting “Hands up, don’t shoot,” “No justice, no peace” and “Unity.”

No violence or arrests were reported during the march, which organizers said were planned to protest the deaths of Sterling and Castile.

“We didn’t expect anything to happen here because, especially with the tragedy at Pulse, I think everyone sees how tight-knit our community really is,” Orlando Police Chief John Mina said as he walked with the group.

Philadelphia

Sunday night marked the fifth straight night of Philadelphia marchers protesting the deaths of black men by police.

According to reports, about 150 people participated in a march that went from Market Street to West Philadelphia to Penn’s Landing. Speakers took turns using a megaphone to call for unity while blocking traffic at an intersection.

Protest leader Nelson Serrano, 50, of Camden said they hoped to gather a crowd of 1,000 at City Hall Wednesday. Protestors were also seen marching downtown Monday morning.