The impetus behind the protest was the May 25 death of George Floyd in police custody. Floyd died following his arrest in Minneapolis, with video showing a police officer kneeling on his neck and back.

That officer, Derek Chauvin, has since been charged with third-degree murder.

Tuesday’s event was filled with participants holding signs and chanting “No justice, no peace” and “White silence is violence,” among others.

One of the most vocal participants in Tuesday’s protest was Fred Sims of Marquette.

Protesters again fill the intersection of Third and West Washington streets in the city of Marquette for a protest to note the May 25 killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. The event also called for an end to racial injustice. (Journal photo by Christie Mastric)

“There have been too many times, too many injustices, not just with George Floyd,” Sims said.

He also suggested that these types of incidents are not geographically limited.

“This is not just a thing that’s based in Minnesota,” Sims said. “Racism and social injustice is real in America. We’re doing this to shed awareness on that. George Floyd just happened to be the movement that we needed, the spark.”

Sims said people had set up a public Facebook group on the local movement, but then was set to a private setting because of the possibility of “anti-groups” infiltrating it.

“We didn’t want them to have the same information we did,” he said.

More protests are planned, Sims said.

Marquette City Police Department officers were set up at several nearby intersections, diverting traffic.

Capt. Mike Laurila of the Marquette Police Department said he has been in contact with local protesters, which has resulted in good communication and dialogue.

“Our job is to keep peace, and we’ll do everything we can to make sure that it stays peaceful,” Laurila said.

In the meantime, people are continuing to express their opinions about the George Floyd situation and the larger context in which the incident took place.

“I believe that police brutality is wrong, any color, you know what I mean? Black, white, Native,” said Jonathan Lauzon of Marquette, who took part in the rally. “I think there needs to be a change in the police and the way they go about things and how they look at citizens and people, because they’re the servants of the public and not above the authority of the rest.”

He said the problem lies everywhere, not just in one state or one city.

“It’s the responsibility of the people that say they serve the people,” Lauzon said.

Christie Mastric can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 250. Her email address is cbleck@miningjournal.net.