‘Let today not end today’: Hundreds rally at Pa. Capitol for George Floyd, Black Lives Matter

*This story was updated with additional information at 9:42 pm 5/30/20

The came in their hundreds on a blazing hot day in late spring to say one name out loud:

George Floyd

Filling the state Capitol steps and spilling out into State Street in downtown Harrisburg, a crowd that cut across gender, race and age, gathered Saturday to show their support for Black Americans and to call for justice for George Floyd, the Minnesota man who died this week after a Minneapolis police officer kept his knee on Floyd’s neck for eight minutes. All four police officers involved in the incident were immediately fired.

Derek Chauvin, the former officer caught on video with knee on Floyd’s neck, and who ignored Floyd’s pleas for mercy, has been charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter.

A white man starts talking on the mic. "White people, get off the mic!" yells a protesters. A few organizers near the mic point to her and make a hushing motion. pic.twitter.com/kkRn5oXaaP

— Stephen Caruso (@StephenJ_Caruso) May 30, 2020

Minneapolis has been rocked by violent protests in the wake of the incident. On Saturday, for the first time in 164 years, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz announced the “full mobilization” of the state’s National Guard to combat the unrest.

Protests were also planned for Philadelphia and Pittsburgh Saturday, as part of a nationwide series of protests and rallies.

In Harrisburg, the crowd, while agitated and visibly angry, kept calm. Shortly after midday, a column of hundreds of marchers, walked up State Street, carrying signs and chanting “No justice, no peace. Charge the police.”

“Let today not end today,” one speaker said from the Capitol steps. “You know what you have to do. Since you have your hand to the plow, you better keep plowing forward.”

The protest, numbering in the hundreds, started at noon. At around 12:25 p.m., protesters began a march on Harrisburg’s street. Some groups would continue to march throughout downtown Harrisburg until 9:45 p.m.

Initially, protesters settled for a brief loop, down State Street to Front Street and back to the Capitol via Walnut Street and 3rd Street.

Along the way, they chanted “no more cops,” and threw their hands in the air while passing a policeman on the sidewalk.

Crowd sees a cop on the sidewalk. Hands go up. "I can't breath," they chant. pic.twitter.com/gnFnFkJTOy

— Stephen Caruso (@StephenJ_Caruso) May 30, 2020

Upon returning to the Capitol, the protesters heard more speeches, including one from Elsie Mbugua, a 20-year-old Hershey resident.

“I’m really, really exhausted of being in fear,” Mbugua said. “I’m tired of it. I’m tired of the white moderate. I’m tired of you not taking a stand against racism. I’m tired of you watching it and not saying anything.”

The crowd, then large enough to fill the bottom half of the Capitol steps and flow into 3rd Street, began to slowly disperse, as some left. One couple even circled the crowd, collecting empty plastic water bottles distributed to marchers.

But the protests continued, including the use of pepper spray on protesters near the Harvey Taylor Bridge, which crosses the Susquehanna River.

Harrisburg, PA
these people were trying to help this man so he wouldn't get more hurt than he already was and get pepper spray#BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/iuFR4jJnld

— Gonzalo🇪🇨 (@gonzaloaflores) May 30, 2020

Protesters ended up back at the Capitol by 4:00 p.m., where they engaged in a standoff with riot police, equipped with shields and billy clubs. Some SWAT officers with assault weapons stood ready as well.

SWAT police with Billy clubs and face shields are deployed in a square outside the Capitol. A few hundred protesters stare on. Uneasy detente reigns. pic.twitter.com/OcJUNpGobm

— Stephen Caruso (@StephenJ_Caruso) May 30, 2020

Police retreated behind a Capitol barricade, and protesters left around 5 p.m. to continue marching.

Protesters leave police barricade, walk down steps to street. pic.twitter.com/iDgGIdHGsV

— Stephen Caruso (@StephenJ_Caruso) May 30, 2020

A Capital-Star reporter left the scene at the time, but protests continued until 9:45, according to PennLive.

Many of the protesters are leaving, and police at the top have fallen back. It seems for now, this is over. pic.twitter.com/eUe95UZsZ3

— Becky Metrick (@BeckyMetrick) May 31, 2020

Harrisburg Mayor Eric Papenfuse ordered a 9 p.m. curfew as well.

The Harrisburg protest was not the only one in Pennsylvania. Protests also reportedly occurred in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Lancaster and Erie.

Protesters in Philaselphia and Pittsburgh included fires, arrests and looting. In response, Gov. Tom Wolf signed a disaster emergency Saturday night that allows state police and the National Guard to intervene as needed.

This evening, I signed a disaster emergency declaration using my authority to provide all necessary assistance to municipalities as they respond to the escalation of protests in Harrisburg, Philadelphia, and Pittsburgh.

— Governor Tom Wolf (@GovernorTomWolf) May 31, 2020