Protests against police violence continue for 4th night across U.S.
Last Updated Jul 10, 2016 10:10 PM EDT
Protests over police violence continued Sunday evening across the U.S., with demonstrators gathering once again in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and St. Paul, Minnesota, two cities reeling from shooting deaths of black men earlier this week.
Tensions between black citizens and police have risen palpably over the past week or so amid the police shootings of African-American men and the gunning down of five white police officers by a black suspect in Dallas.
Sunday evening, a portion of Government Street in downtown Baton Rouge closed due to protests,CBS affiliate WAFB reported.
The march from the Capitol building moved into the street around 6 p.m. and was blocked by police around the area of Government and East Street.
"Protesters were attempting to get onto and block the interstate," said Cpl. Don Coppola, Baton Rouge Police Department. "We were able to stop them before they were able to achieve that."
A crowd of about 200 protesters shouted "No justice, no peace!" as officers in helmets and other tactical gear watched from the other side of a street near Interstate 110.
About a block away, dozens of law enforcement officers and nearly 30 police vehicles assembled near an underpass, shutting down Government Street.
Helicopters circled overhead and about 20 sheriff's deputies in riot gear were lined up along the street. Nearby residents and bystanders recorded the scene on their phones.
Earlier Sunday, about a thousand people marched peacefully from a church to the Capitol and back.
Speakers at the protest seemed to try and move people to march and were pushing for people to listen to police. At one point they said they have permits to be in particular parts of the roadway and are encouraging protesters to abide by those rules.
Officials say they were prepared to use a chemical agent to disperse the crowd if it was needed. Police in full riot gear moved into the area around 7:30 p.m.
Officials say they have made roughly a dozen arrests related to this portion of the demonstration, which is independent from the march that happened earlier in the evening, WAFB reported.
In Baton Rouge on Saturday, police seized seven guns and arrested 30 protesters at an ongoing confrontation at police headquarters, CBS News correspondent David Begnaud reported.
The protesters were demonstrating against the shooting death Tuesday of 37-year-old Alton Sterling. The Department of Justice has opened an investigation into his death, which has angered many in the black community.
One of those arrested was Black Lives Matter leader DeRay McKesson, Begnaud reported. McKesson was apparently streaming live on social media when he was arrested.
He was released Sunday afternoon.
On the heels of a violent protest in St. Paul Saturday night, there was another rally and march in the Twin Cities Sunday afternoon, CBS Minnesota reported.
Philando Castile, 32, was shot and killed by a St. Anthony police officer last Wednesday.
Late Sunday afternoon, a group of protesters marched up and down Silver Lake Road in the north metro. It started as a rally at the St. Anthony Police Department earlier in the afternoon. That's where the officer who shot Philando Castile works.
The rally wrapped up at about 5 p.m. back near the St. Anthony police precinct.
Valerie Castile, Philando's mother, released a statement Sunday evening in regards to the protests.
"On behalf of myself and our entire family, we urge all people to remain peaceful in all demonstrations throughout our community and our nation," she said. "When demonstrations become violent, it disrespects my son and his memory. Philando was a man of peace and dignity. Please, I ask you to at all times remain peaceful in your expressions of concern regarding his death at the hands of the police. I promise that we will not rest until justice prevails."
Protesters also gathered in other major cities across the U.S. on Sunday evening for the fourth straight night in a row.
In Atlanta, Georgia, rallies at Centennial Olympic Park and Woodruff Park started around 7 p.m. Sunday, CBS affiliate WGCL reported.
Atlanta Streetcar temporarily suspended their service due to high traffic in downtown Atlanta.
On Saturday, eleven people were arrested in downtown Atlanta during demonstrations.
In Memphis, Tennessee on Sunday night, a group marched across the city and onto the I-40 bridge.
It started as a peaceful rally at FedExForum with hundreds of people, CBS affiliate WREG reported.
Interim Police Director Michael Rallings was also at the rally, and things heated up when protesters interrupted him.
After rallying at FedExForum, the crowd marched to police headquarters and then continued on, with more people joining them as they went on.
The marchers attempted to go to the I-40 bridge, but police blocked the entrance to the bridge. They eventually found a way onto the bridge via the exit ramp, and police had trouble stopping them.
Traffic was forced to a standstill, and the bridge was closed as police ordered the protesters to exit.
Police said they have everything under control, but advised the public to avoid the downtown area, WREG reported.
Hundreds of demonstrators marched across the six-city Hampton Roads, Virginia, area as part of a coordinated effort to speak out against violence by police against blacks.
Blacklivesmatter757 organized the protests. The organization called for protesters to shutdown streets in Hampton, Norfolk, Newport News, Chesapeake and Portsmouth and the waterfront in Virginia Beach on Sunday evening.
Video from the scene in Newport News shows protesters on a street corner holding signs and chanting "no justice, no peace" and "black lives matter." Some marchers spilled into the street blocking traffic as police cars stood by.
Blacklivesmatter757 uses the Hampton Roads area code to mark its affiliation with the national group.
In New York, protests also continued for the fourth night in a row.
The crowd of about 300 people started in Times Square on Sunday. Between short speeches, they stood silently, holding signs saying "Black Lives Matter." Some had their fists in the air.
They left in a silent march, making their way south to Bryant Park and then to Herald Square. At Bryant Park, young children who had been brought to the march were showcased as the lives demonstrators were marching to protect.
Jashaun Sadler of Ridgefield Park, New Jersey, brought his 6-year-old twins to the demonstration. He says it's "unspeakable" to think of them growing up in a world "where their skin color could make the difference between life and death."
CBS New York reported that the NYPD arrested 20 protesters throughout the city Saturday when the demonstrations became dangerous.
The FDR Drive was shut down by protesters as they made it onto major roads.
"People here are fighting for justice for all in a country that promises it," one protester said.
The fight against police brutality could be seen throughout the area and across the country overnight.
"If only black lives did matter, we wouldn't have to say it," one protester remarked.
The family of Delrawn Small, who was killed last week by an off-duty officer in Brooklyn, was calling for reform in the criminal justice system.
"It's not about me, it's not about any of us as individuals," Zayanahla Vines, Small's nephew, said. "It's about us, what's going on with my people, our people. It needs to stop, something needs to change."
