Wenatchee Times

Hundreds of mask-wearing protesters gathered in Wenatchee's Memorial Park earlier this month to show their support for George Floyd, a black man that was killed by police in Minnesota on May 25.

Attendees held signs and chanted "Black lives matter" and "Say his name: George Floyd" as motorists honked their horns in support. Speeches were given on the courthouse steps before the mass of protesters dispersed and began walking the streets. The crowd was passionate but peaceful. 

"I’d just like to see some unity. I’m sick of racial injustice, I’m sick of seeing folks being killed innocently," attendee Tony Desmukes told the Wenatchee World. "It's good to see the community out, just wanting to raise awareness and showing some hope."

Floyd's death sparked protests across the country and the world. The protests began as peaceful demonstrations against systematic racism and police brutality, but some are ending with dangerous riots that include theft, vandalism and arson. 

That was the scene in Seattle late last month. A peaceful protest turned violent, leading to stolen police weapons, car fires and looting, Q13 Fox News reported. 

"Violence and destruction has no place in this. It is not productive and it is not constitutionally protected," Gov. Jay Inslee said in a press conference after the Seattle protests. "The fact that people started fires that endangered human life in Seattle…totally unacceptable, not constitutionally protected."

Floyd was killed when Derek Chauvin, a white police officer, pinned him under his knee for over 8 minutes. Chauvin was fired the day after the incident and is facing second-degree murder, third-degree murder and manslaughter charges, the Star reported.