Photos: #BlackLivesMatter rally draws 6,000 peaceful protesters and LGBTQ+ Center holds #Black Trans Lives Matter

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Photo by Joslyn Hatfield/Las Vegas Spectrum

When the video of George Floyd’s last few minutes went viral, the world pushed back. After decades of abuse from the police toward our Black community, it fanned the flame of discontent and the #BlackLivesMatter movement exploded into a worldwide wild fire of protest.

The first week was filled with riots in most cities around the globe. Las Vegas was a few days from reopening its Strip after being shut down for months. When the violence ended that week, one young police officer had been critically injured, one armed man was killed by police and there was lots of broken windows, tear gas and arrests.

Former Minnesota police officer Derek Chauvin, who has been charged with murdering Floyd, a black man.  As Chauvin sits in jail the protests have turned into peaceful rallies and vigils.

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For most of June Las Vegans of all races showed out in the streets and parks to support the #Black Lives Matter movement. Las Vegas activist minister Stretch Sanders has organized several peaceful protests. The We Deserve to Live: Black People Matter Rally, March & Candlelight Vigil was held June 5 at Kianga Isoke Palacio Park on the historic west side of Las Vegas. An estimated 6,000 citizens showed up for the peaceful protest and candlelight vigil.

A Black Lives/Black Trans Lives Matter event was held June 13. Peaceful protesters marched from UNLV to the Strip.
On June 21 a smaller Trans Lives Matter protest was held downtown.

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