The demonstration for George Floyd and systemic injustice has moved from the FedExForum to the intersection of Beale and BB King. The end goal location is the National Civil Rights Museum, a few blocks south.

At each intersection, the group plans to kneel for nine minutes as a gesture to remember George Floyd. The officer Derek Chauvin who pressed his knee into Floyd’s neck for several minutes was arrested and charged with murder earlier today.

The demonstration is continuing down Beale Street, which had previously been closed to traffic.

Demonstrators are using a police siren on the bull horn as a call to attention. Shortly after one was issued, protesters heard the first actual police siren of the evening.

This is the second collective kneel of the evening, at the intersection of Beale and Main.

Police presence continues to be minimal. Though many roads around the forum were blockaded around 30 minutes before the protest. Main Street is not part of that blockade.

Cars on Main are joining in the chant of Black Lives Matter. The crowd is assembled behind a flag that says Black Lives Matter. The protest is moving along Main and has crossed Peabody, to the area of N Main that is restricted to trolly service.

It should be noted that the museum at The Lorraine Motel is in the opposite direction down Main, which is currently open to car traffic.

Protestors are walking through the intersections on Main, which are open to car traffic. At Union, it was noted that the group began to walk when the light was green.

On Wednesday, protesters convened for a peaceful protest further down that same Union Ave. That evenings protest ended around 1am at Union and McLean. MPD officers were dressed in riot gear by that point and a stretch of Union Avenue closed to traffic.

Protestors have used the siren on the megaphone to garner collective attention just ahead of Monroe Ave. This is still on a section of road available to trolly service only.

I cannot see any MPD officers at this time.

Devante Hill has reminded protesters of what he said around 6:30 at the FedExForum: attorneys and bail assistance has been organized for any protester who is arrested tonight, he says

The demonstration is continuing swiftly down Main, with chants of “We can’t breathe.”

Some are joining on bird scooters.

The demonstration had paused in front of City Hall. Since arriving a few minutes ago, they’ve chanted “We Can’t Breathe”

“That was powerful,” Hill said.

“It’s not a political movement, it’s a people movement,” Hill said.

“The people, united, will never be defeated,” demonstrators are now chanting.

Noted that there is still no MPD presence.

“No justice, no peace.” Demonstration has paused for a water break. Hill has asked the group to check in on Facebook at City Hall

The demonstration has moved east down Washington. “The people, united, will never be divided.”

A handful of police cars were at the end of North Main, though the demonstration did not continue that way.

The demonstration is now heading south on BB King. Protestors are doing a call and response:

“George Floyd”

“Say his name.”

The group has encountered less than a dozen vehicles. Some drivers have been noticeably supportive of the message. No drivers have been apparently upset

MPD cars are now stationed on the east side of some intersections. One left at Court Ave. where protesters have now gathered, keeping up the chant.

“We can’t breathe” protestors now chant as the movement continues down BB King

Hill says order and structure will be necessary of a united body of demonstrators.

A few MPD cars can be seen a few blocks down, across Monroe Ave.

“Hands up, don’t shoot” the group is chanting.

Movement has continued through the intersection. This is the scene to the left of the demonstration.

Protestors stopped at Gayoso and BB King. Hill notes that this area was previously blocked off earlier in the night. They continue on.

Demonstrators have continued past Beale, and are walking past the FedExForum where the group originally convened. Barricades were moved. Movement continues south, the direction of the Lorraine Motel.

A man stands facing traffic at MLK Blvd and BB King. Some cars honked in support.

“Hands up, don’t shoot,” the demonstration chanted as it turned back west, up Vance Ave.

This is blocks from the Lorraine Motel.

Movement continues toward S Main, past another police car.

MPD officers are not in riot gear, as they were Wednesday. The ratio of officers at intersections to demonstrators is notably smaller than the ratio was by the end of Wednesday’s demonstration in midtown.

Demonstrators chant “I am a Man,” steps from the Lorraine Motel. The slogan originated from striking sanitation workers in Memphis. MLK was assassinated at the Lorraine Motel after visiting Memphis in support of the strike.

The group kneels in silence for the third time under the balcony where MLK was killed 52 years ago.

After three and a half hours, the movement has reached it destination without incident.

“Is this not the most powerful thing you’ve experienced in Memphis or what?” Hill tells the crowd, noting the diversity of the group.

Hill praises Frank Gotti for his work addressing black-on-black crime in Memphis. Earlier in the week, MOD asked protesters where the support was for the homicides that took place in the community over the weekend. https://twitter.com/samhardiman/status/1265852231359909894?s=21

. @tamisawyer addresses the crowd. She encourages them to march until all four officers are arrested, in reference to the four officers seen in the video of George Floyd’s death.

She also noted that the city has called for an investigation into the incident of a woman being knocked to the ground Wednesday. https://www.commercialappeal.com/story/news/2020/05/29/memphis-mayor-calls-investigation-police-actions-during-protest/5283498002/

The group remains at the National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel, approaching hour four. Folks are sitting down after a swift movement through downtown. Diverse members of the group are sharing testimony.

Make sure you’re also reading from @megawatts2000, who continues to teach me so much about this city and is so awesome to report alongside

https://twitter.com/megawatts2000/status/1266575971337019392?s=21 https://twitter.com/megawatts2000/status/1266575971337019392

. @Desi_Stennett has made sense of our feeds, stopping along the sidewalk to get this story out.

@joerondone and @HenryPTPhoto are documenting with wonderful photos https://www.commercialappeal.com/story/news/2020/05/29/memphis-protesters-take-streets-after-george-floyd-death-third-night/5283551002/

“The only way that change is gonna come is if we stand up and do something about it,” one woman says. (I’m too far sadly to grab her name.) She implores the crowd to look within and see if they are here to “be cool” or to mobilize for change.

What did I tell u about @megawatts2000!!!!! The real deal

https://twitter.com/megawatts2000/status/1266578609218732032?s=21 https://twitter.com/megawatts2000/status/1266578609218732032

The elders are called to the front. One encourages the crowd to vote.

“The best people in the world are right here in Memphis, Tennessee,” Hill said. The group is preparing to dismiss for the evening.

The group winds down with chants of “George Floyd.”

“You are on the right side of history,” Hill says.