The death of George Floyd has set off protests nationwide, including one in downtown Vancouver on Sunday.
About 100 people gathered at Esther Short Park shortly after noon.
Demonstrators waved signs, chanted “black lives matter” and called for an end to police brutality.
Protests and riots have roiled the nation since Monday when Floyd, a handcuffed black man who pleaded for air as a white police officer pressed a knee on his neck, died in Minneapolis.
Those at Sunday’s demonstration in Vancouver felt it was important to do their part to help spread a message nationwide.
“I think it’s important that everywhere across the country everyone is protesting because this isn’t just an occurrence in one area, it’s everywhere,” said Rowan, a protester who gave only his first name. “There are countless black lives being lost to police brutality, so it’s important that everyone is involved, everyone is aware and everyone has everyone’s backs.”
Sunday’s protest, which was organized on social media, was not affiliated with any particular group. While rioting and looting accompanied protests in Portland and Seattle on Saturday, Sunday’s Vancouver protest was peaceful.
While some demonstrators hope that systemic change will come from Floyd’s death, others were less optimistic.
“There have been so many attempts at this, and I just don’t know,” said a protester who declined to give his name. “I hope things change.”
