Hundreds of protesters gathered outside the Humboldt County Courthouse this afternoon to demonstrate against police brutality in the wake of the killing of George Floyd while in police custody in Minneapolis.

The demonstration quickly turned confrontational as protesters blocked all three lanes of traffic on Fifth Street. As seen in the video above, at least one oncoming motorist pushed people with his truck, inching forward and demanding to be let through. 

When Eureka police officers began diverting traffic to avoid the crowds of protesters, the protesters moved their demonstration one block north to Fourth Street, where more confrontations with traffic ensued.

Watch this space for more updates.

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UPDATE, 3:35 p.m.: After those confrontations with traffic, the mass of protesters began marching east on Fourth Street. As they progressed the protesters chanted various refrains, including, “George Floyd!” “Black lives matter!” and “No justice, no peace! No racist-ass police!” 

Cars honked, either in protest or frustration. The Outpost‘s Andrew Goff was on the scene, shooting the videos you see above. He said the crowd extended as far as he could see, both ahead of him and behind him on Fourth Street.

After reaching the north end of Eureka, the protesters turned left into the Target parking lot, where they again blocked traffic. From there, the protesters headed back west and then north onto State Route 255, crossing the Samoa Bridges. Goff estimates there may be close to 1,000 protesters in attendance.

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UPDATE, 4:15 p.m.: The crowd eventually turned around and came back into Eureka, making its way back to the courthouse. Goff reports that there are no longer any police in sight, at least from his vantage in the crowd. 

UPDATE: 4:35 p.m.: The protesters are still on the move. Goff reports that the crowd marched west on Sixth Street, then went a block south and headed east on Seventh.

“The cops don’t seem to be able to anticipate which way the crowd is going to turn, so efforts to divert traffic have not been all that successful thus far,” Goff notes. “It’s been a mostly positive response, I’d say, from motorists. Every once in a while some truck will rev their engine, but then protesters surround that [vehicle] and give them hell.”

UPDATE, 4:50 p.m.: Goff reports the first visible confrontation between protesters and the police, as a California Highway Patrol vehicle was surrounded by a group of protesters after trying to push through the crowd on the corner of Seventh and C Streets.

The officer turned on the sirens and lights, which prompted the protesters to surround the vehicle. The officer then pushed on the gas a little, which protesters saw as a sign of provocation and started hitting the vehicle, denting it a little, Goff said. 

-Stephanie McGeary

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UPDATE, 5:15p.m.: After marching down Broadway, which was temporarily closed to traffic, the crowd of protesters turned up Henderson and onto Fairfield. 

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UPDATE, 5:34 p.m.: After a couple of turns, the protesters marched up Wabash and are currently turning north on E, according to the Outpost’s Andrew Goff.

— Hank Sims

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UPDATE, 5:44 p.m.: The march has turned up 14th Street, and is blocking traffic at the corner of 14th and I Streets. Continuing up I.

— Hank Sims

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UPDATE, 5:50 p.m.: Numerous social media posts and other messages coming into the Outpost report a confrontation between a red Jeep and several protesters earlier in the march, on Fourth Street. At least one person was struck by the Jeep, as can be seen in the video below from Facebook user Marc T. Darcus, after the six-minute mark:

We’ll attempt to find out more about this.

— Hank Sims

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UPDATE, 5:53 p.m. The Outpost’s Andrew Goff reports that the march has arrived back at the courthouse.

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UPDATE, 6:05 p.m.: Things are getting tense at the courthouse, says the Outpost‘s Andrew Goff. Police have set up barricades in an attempt to limit the protest to the courthouse lawn, but protesters have broken through and there are confrontations arising between protesters and the police.

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UPDATE, 6:16 p.m.: Police have blockaded the streets and intersections around the courthouse. In the meanwhile, though, the mood seems to have calmed some from the tense few minutes depicted in the videos above, according to our reporter on the scene.

— Hank Sims

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UPDATE, 6:21 p.m.: The protest is moving north up Fourth Street now. Police are following it along side streets but are keeping vehicles at a distance from the mass of the crowd, the Outpost’s Andrew Goff reports.

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UPDATE, 6:28 p.m.: The march is going up Fifth Street toward the Samoa Bridge now. Many people went home when the march arrive back to the courthouse, but there are still several hundred people on the street.

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UPDATE, 6:35 p.m.: There was nearly a confrontation with a person parked near McDonald’s a few moments ago, but organizers with the protest seem to have averted it. Video below by Goff:

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UPDATE, 6:41 p.m.: Marchers have returned to Target.

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UPDATE, 6:55 p.m.: 

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UPDATE, 7:07 p.m.: After a brief negotiation on the Slough Bridge — depicted below — protesters are again marching southbound toward the courthouse. At least some had hoped to continue northbound to Arcata, but terms could not be reached with the California Highway Patrol.

(UPDATE to this UPDATE): Actually, according to the Outpost’s Andrew Goff, terms were in fact reached with the CHP, but the crowd decided to march back to downtown Eureka anyway.

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UPDATE, 7:18 p.m.: Says Goff: “Some employees from Burger King came out to throw up fists in support of the protesters. One appreciative protester yelled ‘Fuck McDonald’s!’ which drew laughs from the crowd.”

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UPDATE, 7:30 p.m.: Back at the courthouse, refreshment:

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UPDATE, 7:50 p.m.: A conversation between a protester and a deputy sheriff ends with the officer giving the protester her number, so they can talk more later. Goff says it was a little difficult to overhear what, exactly, they were talking about, so he asked the protesters afterward. “Justice,” she said.

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UPDATE, 8:25 p.m.: The march continues around downtown, sort of centering around the courthouse, still.

Lest you think that it’s constant conflict between activists and passing motorists, know that there’s a lot of solidarity with the marchers, too:

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UPDATE, 8:50 p.m.: The march has stopped outside EPD headquarters. There was a confrontation with someone in a pickup.

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UPDATE, 8:58 p.m.: Back at the courthouse now.

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UPDATE, 9:34 p.m.: The Outpost’s Andrew Goff, still downtown, says that there are fewer than 100 people — most of them on the young side of today’s protest — still downtown. Law enforcement is still present, at a distance.