George Floyd protests in Arizona
The march began at 9:15 AM at Mountain Pointe with a few hundred individuals who then walked to Desert Vista to "raise awareness and participate in the movement that our nation and world is embracing."[3] On June 6, dozens of protesters demonstrated at the intersection of Florence Boulevard and Cameron Avenue, in front of City Hall, in support of Black Lives Matter and George Floyd.[20] Police alleged that protesters destroyed windows and doors to the Arizona Federal Theater and a City of Phoenix government building, as well as several other municipal and private businesses and parked cars.[22] On May 29 a separate vigil in honor of Dion Johnson, a 28-year-old man who was shot and killed by a DPS trooper on May 25,[23] was scheduled to be held outside the Arizona Department of Public Safety office, but the location was changed prior to the event to Eastlake Park in East-Central Phoenix.Following a vigil, hundreds of demonstrators marched nearly two miles to the Phoenix Police Department Headquarters located at the intersection of 7th Avenue and Washington Street.At this time, several demonstrators proceeded to damage property in the vicinity including the FOX 10 Phoenix Studios, Arizona Federal Theater, Sandra Day O'Connor U.S.Police remained confrontational, and protesters continued to damage property and paint messages of solidarity on buildings and surfaces around the downtown area.On May 31 in downtown Phoenix, mere hours after Governor Doug Ducey instituted a state-wide curfew from 8:00 pm to 5:00 am, police blocked street exits, then released tear gas into a captive crowd of protesters.Protesters arrived at the intersection of N. Rural Road and E. Playa Del Norte Drive north of the Campus of Arizona State University.The event featured local Black artists and musicians and speakers called for defunding the police and encouraged attendees to denounce white supremacy."[43] Due to the violence that occurred during the protests in Phoenix, Scottsdale, and Tucson, Arizona governor Doug Ducey declared a state of emergency on May 31.