George Floyd protests in California
There have been a series of protests and riots in California related to the death of George Floyd on May 25, 2020 in Minneapolis while in police custody. On May 31, 2020, the California Department of Human Resources advised "all state departments with offices in downtown city areas" to close on June 1.
Northern California
- Arcata: About 200 protesters marched around the plaza on June 1.
- Davis: Roughly 100 UC Davis students held protests in downtown Davis on May 30. The Davis Police Department station was vandalized.
- Eureka: Hundreds protested in the streets near the courthouse on May 30. Two different cars drove into demonstrators.
- Folsom: On June 1, hundreds joined at the Folsom Library to march to Folsom City Hall and the police station. The protests continued throughout Old Town Folsom.
- Fort Bragg: Hundreds of protesters gathered on June 2 to condemn police brutality and racial inequality. The protest was entirely peaceful and the police department expressed its condolences to the family of George Floyd.
- Fresno:
- *May 30: Hundreds of marchers demonstrated in multiple locations throughout Fresno including a march from Chukchansi Park in Downtown Fresno north to the Tower District and River Park. One business in Central Fresno reported broken glass from a group that strayed from the original protests.
- *May 31: Over 3,000 protesters marched up Fresno Street toward the Fresno Police headquarters.
- *June 6: Caleb Kelly and other athletes joined a rally around the River Park shopping area, and southwest Fresno had a march that ended with a gathering at the Cecil C. Hinton Center.
- *June 18: Several hundred people gathered and painted "Black Lives Matter" on P Street in front of Fresno City Hall. The Fresno City Council and Mayor Lee Brand unanimously declared June 18, "Black Lives Matter Day" in the city.
- Lake County: There was a protest in Lakeport on June 5 and in Middletown on June 3.
- Lake Tahoe: Vigils and protests were held at Lakeview Commons every night from May 30 through June 1.
- Madera: On June 5, around 200 protesters marched from John Adams Elementary to Lions Park.
- Marysville: May 31: Dozens attended a vigil at Ellis Lake.
- Modesto: On May 31, hundreds of protesters in Modesto marched through downtown core and diverged up to McHenry Avenue until reaching Standiford Ave. Protesters then walked south back to downtown starting point. Protests were largely peaceful with few instances of bottles being thrown at police. Fifteen people were arrested.
- Monterey: Hundreds gathered at Window on the Bay beach on May 30. Protesters remained distant from each other while they lined Del Monte Avenue and passing drivers honked their support.
- Oroville: On May 31, protesters marched from Municipal Auditorium on Myers Street through downtown Oroville and back to support Black Lives Matter and George Floyd, ending the protest with a moment of silence for eight minutes and forty-six seconds.
- Red Bluff: A peaceful protest was held on June 1, with more than 100 people involved.
- Redding: May 29: A march started at Martin Luther King Jr. Center and then down Court Street. June 2: Organizers of a march schedule for Tuesday cancelled the event citing safety concerns, limited police availability and the specter of a "militia group" of counter-protesters. A crowd of at least 100 gathered at the Kohl's parking lot chanting "You can't stop the revolution." Counterprotesters wearing combat boots and camouflage gathered across the street. Redding Police Chief Bill Schueller took a knee with protesters and officers marched "arms linked" with protesters. More than 1,500 people marched against racial injustice and police abuse in Redding on June 6, 2020.
- Sacramento: Hundreds of people protested peacefully on Franklin Boulevard on May 29. A group of protesters jumped onto Highway 99 southbound at the 12th Avenue overpass and traffic. On May 30 protesters blocked part of I-5 and marched downtown. On June 1 Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg issued a curfew. Later that day, over a thousand people attended a prayer gathering at Cesar Chavez Plaza before marching to the County District Attorney's office and back, eventually breaking curfew. Among the later leaders was Stevante Clark, brother of police shooting victim Stephon Clark.
- Salinas: June 1: Hundreds brought to Hartnell College where they displayed them to drivers on West Alisal street and then marched Salinas City Hall. Hundreds more attended a second rally organized by the League of United Latin American Citizens outside the California Rodeo Salinas.
- Santa Cruz: On May 30, hundreds of protesters gathered peacefully. The city's Mayor and Police Chief joined the protest.
- Seaside: May 30: Hundreds of solidarity protesters gathered at Seaside City Hall and briefly blocked Highway 1.
- Sonora: On June 3, hundreds of people met in downtown Sonora to protest peacefully. Across the street from the protest about 100 counter-protesters gathered. During a nine-minute moment of silence, the counter-protesters began reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.
- Stockton: 500 people protested at Stockton's Martin Luther King, Jr. Park on June 1, 2020.
- Ukiah: More than 200 gathered in downtown Ukiah on May 31.
- Watsonville: On May 31, hundreds of peaceful protesters gathered in the downtown plaza, where they were joined by the city's Police Chief.
- Willits: On May 31, over 50 people held a peaceful protest in Babcock Park.
- Woodland: About 150-200 protesters demonstrated peacefully on the south side of Freeman Park in front of the Yolo County Courthouse on May 31.
Bay Area
- Berkeley: 3,000-4,000 protesters marched in South Berkeley, on June 6.
- Castro Valley: On June 1, protesters gathered at the intersection of Redwood Road and a driveway leading to an office of the California Highway Patrol. The demonstrators were loud, but there was no violence, vandalism, or looting.
- Clayton: June 2: 200–300 protesters marched from Concord to downtown Clayton, where they were by police.
- Cloverdale: Protests were held at Cloverdale Plaza on May 31.
- Concord: June 2: 200–300 protesters marched from Concord to downtown Clayton, where they were by police.
- Fremont / Newark: June 2: Hundreds marched several miles from Newark to the Fremont Police Department.
- Marin City and Ross: On June 2, protesters marched from downtown Ross to Marin City.
- Mountain View: June 4: A large crowd gathered at the intersection of San Antonio Road and El Camino Real the night of June 4 to protest police violence. The protest, which shut down El Camino Real while protesters marched to the Mountain View City Hall, was organized by several seniors at Los Altos High School with civics teacher Seth Donnelly.
- Napa: May 31: About 300 protesters gathered at Napa County Courthouse and Veterans Memorial Park. A previously scheduled protest was cancelled due to unfounded reports of outside groups threatening to disrupt the rally.
- Oakland: May 30: hundreds of protesters gathered near the Oakland Police Department headquarters in downtown Oakland. Some protesters set off fireworks and threw bottles at police. Police fired flash-bang grenades and tear gas at the crowd. Many businesses in the area were ransacked or had their windows smashed. Several dozen protesters blocked traffic on Interstate 880, stopping traffic in both directions for about half an hour. Oakland police department reported arrests but didn't provide any specific details. Two Federal Protective Services officers were shot during the riot, one of whom died. A vehicle pulled up next to the federal building and someone inside the vehicle fired at security personnel stationed outside. Authorities said they have not determined a suspect or a motive for the shooting, and cautioned against assuming it was related to the protests. This incident was labelled by Department of Homeland Security Acting Deputy Secretary Ken Cuccinelli as an "act of domestic terrorism." In addition, six police officers and seven civilians were injured in clashes elsewhere in the city.
- Petaluma: About 300 people marched from downtown Petaluma to the Sonoma-Marin County Fairgrounds on May 31.
- Pleasanton:
- *June 5: More than 2,000 demonstrated in a march that started at Amador Valley Community park and included an 8-minute and 46 seconds moment of silence in remembrance of the time George Floyd spent while suffocated to death by police.
- Redwood City: June 2: about 2,000 demonstrated in front of the old San Mateo County Courthouse. Police arrested seven men with guns who said they were trying to defend their property.
- San Francisco:
- *May 30: A protest was held at UN Plaza in the afternoon. Later that night, looting occurred at Union Square stores and ten arrests on felony looting were made. San Francisco Mayor London Breed issued a curfew.
- *June 3: a protest of an estimated 12,000 to 16,000 people was organized at Dolores Park. On June 6, a protest on the Golden Gate Bridge drew thousands of attendees.
- *June 11: Nurses for Racial Justice organized a march for health-care workers from CPMC Van Ness Campus to San Francisco City Hall at 7:45pm. Another march to San Francisco Police Headquarters occurred earlier in the day. A third group of skateboarders protested at a rally called Bomb Hills 4 Black Lives at Justin Herman Plaza.
- *June 18: City officials removed a statue of Christopher Columbus in San Francisco's Pioneer Park after calls had been made on social media to throw the statue into the San Francisco Bay.
- *June 19: Demonstrators in Golden Gate Park toppled or otherwise vandalized statues of Catholic missionary Junipero Serra, Francis Scott Key, Ulysses S. Grant, author Miguel de Cervantes and his fictional characters Don Quixote and Sancho Panza. The archbishop of San Francisco, Salvatore Cordileone, described the toppling of the saint's statue as "an act of sacrilege an act of the Evil One", and on June 27 performed an exorcism at the site using the Prayer to Saint Michael.
- San Francisco Peninsula: Hundreds of protesters marched through Menlo Park, Palo Alto and East Palo Alto on June 1. In the morning, people knelt on the lawn for nine minutes at Burgess Park and listened to speakers including Menlo Park's first African-American female mayor before marching to El Camino Park. Picketers blocked lanes on US Route 101 and the Oregon Expressway. Fireworks hit a patrol car but the officer was not injured. About 150 demonstrators marched to Mark Zuckerberg's home and stayed briefly.
- San Jose: On May 29, hundreds of protesters blocked traffic on Highway 101, then marched to City Hall. At Highway 101 some people in the group were seen attacking vehicles. One man was filmed smashing a car's window while a woman pulled on the doors and yelled at the occupants to get out. Protesters also blocked Interstate 880. Some threw bottles and rocks and launched firecrackers at police, injuring some officers. Many businesses and properties had their windows smashed and were ransacked. Some rioters also used graffiti to vandalize. One crowd started a fire on Broadway and fed it with debris and construction barricades. San Jose Police Department officer Jared Yuen drew national attention for aggressive behavior towards protesters, including insulting protesters, then nearly immediately firing projectiles which initiated a fight. A San Jose resident, who was seen in a viral video assisting police by carrying an officer, alleged that not long after on May 29, officer Jared Yuen shot him without cause, with a rubber bullet. A cultural bias trainer for the San Jose police was shot in the groin by a San Jose police officer, causing a testicle to rupture. Officer Jared Yuen was among the group of officers who had fired on the trainer, but it was unclear if Yuen himself had fired. The city imposed a curfew from 20:30 to 05:00, beginning on May 31.
- San Leandro: Between 73 and 100 cars were stolen from a Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram auto dealer on Sunday, June 1, 2020. Some of the sports cars cost as much as $60,000.
- San Mateo: A peaceful protest led by high school students attracted hundreds of participants took place on June 3. Protesters gathered at City Hall then walked down El Camino Real to a San Mateo police station.
- San Rafael: Protesters lined up along Third Street in the North Bay on May 31. Passing drivers honked in encouragement.
- San Ramon: June 3: Hundreds of protesters marched from Valley View Park to San Ramon City Hall.
- Santa Clara: On June 5, a crowd of about 200 protesters gathered at Santa Clara City Hall. They held a two-minute moment of silence for Breonna Taylor.
- Santa Rosa: On May 30, up to 500 protesters marched from downtown Santa Rosa to Mendocino Avenue, towards the Sonoma County Jail. Later that night, downtown restaurants, banks, church, and the Santa Rosa Plaza had windows smashed and graffiti mentioning the death of Andy Lopez, a 13-year-old killed by police in Santa Rosa in 2013. 75 people were arrested in relation to protests and unrest on June 2. A 17-year-old boy was arrested for assault with a deadly weapon a week after allegedly trying to run over protesters with a pickup truck near Old Courthouse Square, and accelerating towards Fourth Street. One site reported that multiple protesters were injured, but none were reported to be major or required medical attention. On May 31, a 33-year-old man was injured in the lower face from a stingball grenade that was fired from an officer. The protester was struck as he was kneeling in the middle of a street near the Sonoma County Sheriff's Department and Jail buildings, one hour after officers had given protesters orders to disperse. A woman had been struck over the left eye with a projectile the day prior in Santa Rosa.
- Sebastopol: There were about 200 protesters in downtown Sebastopol on June 3.
- Vacaville: June 1: Hundreds of protesters gathered at city hall.
- Vallejo: About 100 protesters marched from Wilson Park to the Vallejo Police Department station on May 28.
- Walnut Creek: June 1: A few hundred protesters attempting to walk onto I-680 were almost immediately met with tear gas, rubber bullets and dogs.
Southern California
- Bakersfield: Hundreds of protesters blocked traffic on Truxtun Avenue. 10 people were arrested. A 31-year-old man ran his car into protesters, striking a 15-year-old, and was arrested for attempted murder.
- Calexico: June 2: Hundreds of protesters gathered in front of the Imperial County Courthouse.
- El Centro: June 1: Businesses shut down in anticipation of a planned George Floyd protest.
- Ridgecrest: Between May 31, 2020 and June 2, 2020, as many as 65 protesters gather. June 2 had the largest protest with at least 65 demonstrators attending. On this day, signs were held during the protest, and music from Michael Jackson and reggae were played during the event.
- San Luis Obispo: June 1: Hundreds of protesters gathered at Mission Plaza and marched through downtown. After protesters blocked the road, the gathering was declared unlawful. Several protesters were arrested, and after a line of police moved towards downtown, most of the protesters dispersed.
- Visalia: May 30: At around 3pm, the protest was interrupted by a Jeep flying an American flag and a Keep America Great flag which drove into protesters, hitting two.
Los Angeles County
- Alhambra: June 4: About 200 residents marched from Almansor Park to Alhambra City Hall.
- Altadena: On June 6, hundreds of demonstrators gathered in Charles White Park in Altadena to protest the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police officers and other acts of police brutality. The protest was organized by the Altadena-based grassroots organization My Tribe Rise, which aims to feed the homeless and contribute to various communities throughout Southern California.
- Avalon: June 3: A small protest was held at the town square by Catalina Island young adults.
- Beverly Hills: May 30: Protesters entered the city having marched from the Fairfax district in Los Angeles. Demonstrators were peaceful but opportunistic looters broke into stores. A city curfew was imposed starting at 8 p.m. On June 26, somewhere between twenty-four and twenty-eight protesters were arrested in Beverly Hills on entirely nonviolent charges, excepting one individual suspected on an arson charge. They were detained for upwards of twenty hours in what the National Lawyers Guild called "punitive".
- Boyle Heights, Los Angeles: On June 7, hundreds gathered at Mariachi Plaza on foot and in cars to protest police brutality in Boyle Heights, a historically Latino neighborhood.
- Burbank: June 4: At around noon, hundreds of protesters gathered at a park where they made their way to City Hall and the Burbank Police Department.
- Calabasas: On June 2 and June 3, hundreds of protesters marched in temperatures exceeding 100 degrees Fahrenheit to support racial justice. The large crowd chanted "Black Lives Matter", "Hands up, don't shoot", and "Say their names" while subsequently listing African-Americans killed by police. All protests thus far have been peaceful, and the city government released a statement strongly condemning the killing of George Floyd and systemic racism as a whole.
- Century City: June 6: Around 600 people protested peacefully. The demonstrators then protested outside the ICM Partners Building, where speakers spoke to the crowd.
- Cerritos: June 1: Hundreds protested at Gridley Park and City Hall.
- Claremont: June 1: over 100 protesters gathered at the corner of Indian Hill Boulevard and Foothill Boulevard at 3 p.m. They marched down Indian Hill Boulevard to Memorial Park. The event was organized by a group of students from Claremont High School.
- Compton: Thousands attended two Black Lives Matter protests on June 7, including famous natives of the city Kendrick Lamar and Demar Derozan, as well as Hawthorne native Russell Westbrook.
- Covina: June 3: Hundreds attended a rally at Heritage Park, in front of the Police Department.
- Culver City: June 5: More than 300 people protested peacefully in Veterans Park.
- Diamond Bar: Between 800 and 1000 protesters gathered and marched in Diamond Bar on June 4 at 1:00 pm. The protest was declared an unlawful assembly after protesters blocked traffic at an intersection. The crowd panicked once a sheriff's deputy shot pepper balls at the asphalt.
- Downey: Hundreds marched down Firestone Boulevard between the Downey Promenade and downtown Downey.
- Downtown Los Angeles: On May 29, protesters blocked traffic and threw rocks at the windows of businesses and passing vehicles. They also set off fireworks which hit several buildings. Looters broke into several stores and stole items such as televisions and jewelry. Buildings were also spray painted. Thousands of protesters converged on the 110 Freeway, shutting it down temporarily. Several protesters scuffled with police, which resulted in two officer injuries. Police begun to use batons and rubber bullets against the protesters. On May 30, Los Angeles Mayor, Eric Garcetti authorized the deployment of the California National Guard overnight. On May 30, 2020, protesters put an LAPD officer in a chokehold and kicked the officer. Also in Los Angeles, a wheelchair-bound man was shot in the face with a rubber projectile; pictures of the man's bloody face were widely shared.
- El Monte: Speakers in the protest said "All lives matter" instead of "Black lives matter", which caused many people to go onto social media to criticize the speakers.
- Fairfax District: May 30: Thousands of protesters began their march at Pan Pacific Park then spread out towards West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, and other areas. Stores and police cars were vandalized on Beverly Boulevard near the shopping center The Grove. During the protests, LAPD officers attacked a peaceful crowd with batons.
- Glendora: June 1: a protest of over 100 demonstrators started at 2 p.m. at the corner of Route 66 and South Grand Avenue. Protesters chanted "I can't breathe" and "No justice, no peace". A moment of silence was held for eight minutes, and five members of the Glendora Police Department knelt with the protesters.
- Hancock Park: June 2: Protesters chanted "Defund the Police" outside Los Angeles Mayor Garcetti's house.
- La Cañada Flintridge: May 31: Hundreds of protesters gathered at the intersection of Angeles Crest Highway and Foothill Boulevard.
- La Crescenta-Montrose: June 1: Around 20 protested at Demoret Park. June 2: Around 100 protesters gathered at Demoret Park. On June 6, hundreds gathered to continue speaking out against racial injustice and police brutality in a largely peaceful protest.
- La Puente: June 3: Hundreds of people protested at the intersection of Hacienda Boulevard and Amar Road, chanting "No Justice, No Peace."
- La Verne: June 3: Hundreds of people gathered outside City Hall, including the city's mayor, Tim Hepburn.
- Lakewood: On June 5, a group of roughly 500 protesters walked from Long Beach City College to Lakewood City Hall. After the local curfew had passed, a group of approximately 100 protesters returned to the street, forcing law enforcement officers to use pepper ball rounds and smoke to disperse the crowd.
- Long Beach: On May 31, hundreds of protesters showed up to condemn police brutality on Ocean Avenue. There were reports of heavy looting and vandalism at 5 p.m. at the Pike Outlets.
- Malibu: On June 8, about 200 people showed up at Zuma Beach for the city's largest Black Lives Matter protest yet. It is believed to be Malibu's largest political demonstration in 15 years.
- Manhattan Beach: June 6: More than 500 protesters marched from the Manhattan Beach Pier to the Hermosa Beach border. The protest was kid-friendly and its goal was to educate kids about racism.
- Montebello: June 4: Hundreds of people gathered outside Montebello Park, with organizers stating they feared little repercussions for racist-inspired violence.
- Monrovia: On June 1 and 2, "at least 400 people" marched peacefully around Myrtle Ave. beginning from the Monrovia Public Library. The demonstrators held up signs and chanted while they circled the street. Several police offers were present and kneeled in with protesters.
- Palmdale:
- *On May 31, 2020, between 200 and 300 non-violent protesters gathered at Marie Kerr Park and made their way to Rancho Vista Boulevard and 10th Street West. A Facebook post by the Palmdale Sheriff's Station said that between 75 and 100 protesters blocked lanes and attacked vehicles.
- *On June 2, around 300 protesters marched from 47th Street East and Avenue S down to 25th Street where the crowd appeared to triple in size.
- *June 10: The body of an African-American man named Robert Fuller was found hanging from a tree in front of Palmdale City Hall. The death was ruled a suicide by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Office, the victim's family and community are demanding a fuller investigation. As of June 15, the California Highway Patrol, the FBI, the U.S. attorney's office and the U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division are monitoring the investigations and the FBI are investigating it as a possible hate-crime/lynching.
- Palos Verdes Estates: On June 1, 2020, about 150 people protested outside of the Palos Verdes Estates police station. The majority of the protest was made up of recent high school graduates and their families and children. The demonstrators also held up signs and chanted at the intersection at Malaga Cove Plaza.
- Pasadena: On May 30, 2020 6:30pm Protesters gathered at Colorado Blvd and Fair Oaks Ave. The city declared a local state of emergency and ordered an 8 p.m. curfew. On June 6, hundreds of protesters gathered at a Black Lives Matter rally to denounce police violence against black people and to stamp out systemic racism in Pasadena.
- Pomona: On May 30, 2020, about 250 people protested.
- Rancho Palos Verdes: On June 1, about 150 protesters demonstrated outside of the city's police station to support the Black Lives Matter movement and against police brutality. The demonstrators held signs and chanted outside of Malaga Cove Plaza.
- Redondo Beach: On June 3, about 80 protesters gathered at the intersection of Hawthorne and Artesia Boulevards, carrying signs saying "Black Lives Matter". On June 5, more than 200 people gathered at Miramar Park in South Redondo Beach to protest against police brutality and to demand an end to law enforcement policies that the protesters felt discriminate against black and brown communities.
- Rowland Heights: June 6: At least 200 Rowland Heights residents held signs and flowers as they marched from Gloria Heer Park to Schabarum Park. People also chanted words and phrases calling for justice and "no racist police" on Colima Road.
- San Dimas: On June 5, 2020, about 100 protesters demonstrated outside San Dimas City Hall, chanting "Black lives matter".
- Santa Clarita: June 4: Hundreds of protesters gathered at the civic center and marched to the Valencia Town Center and business district. The National Guard was deployed, but no force was used.
- Santa Monica:
- *May 28: at 3pm, protesters gather at Santa Monica Police Station at 333 Olympic Dr. Protesters marched down Ocean Front Walk to a LAPD substation in Venice.
- *May 31: Hundreds of protesters gathered peacefully along Ocean Boulevard in the afternoon. Looting erupted in the nearby shopping district soon after. Numerous buildings were also vandalized, looted and burned along Santa Monica Boulevard, with the most visible destruction being at the site of the popular Japanese-themed restaurant Sake House. Some protesters refused to disperse after the 4:00 p.m. curfew and engaged in standoffs with police. Hundreds of arrests were made that night.
- *June 5: A "paddle out" organized by Black Girls Surf was held at the Bay Street Beach Historic District on Friday morning.
- Sierra Madre: June 4: A few hundred people gathered at a rally at Sierra Vista Park that included speeches and a sing-along commemorating Floyd's death.
- South Pasadena: On June 10, over 100 protesters surrounded South Pasadena City Hall in solidarity and to demand police reform. The group that organized the protest, the South Pasadena Youth for Police Reform, compiled a list of 21 demands for amending and reforming what they believe to be an outdated structure for local law enforcement.
- Torrance: On May 31, 2020, several hundred demonstrators held up signs and laid down on the ground at Torrance City Hall.
- Van Nuys: On June 1, 2020, more than 100 people were arrested after police declared an unlawful assembly and began dispersing the crowd at a protest near the Valley Municipal Building. Looting and vandalism occurred in the surrounding area as the crowd broke up.
- Walnut: On June 1, 2020, more than 100 people attended a protest near Mt. San Antonio College. Several of the protesters walked down to the Walnut/Diamond Bar Sheriff Station to continue their protest.
- West Covina: On June 1, 2020, a four-hour peaceful protest took place where demonstrators walked to the 10 Freeway overpass from nearby parking lots. At one point, the demonstrators laid down on the overpass. By mid-afternoon, there were around 170 people that participated in the event.
- West Hollywood: On June 3, thousands of people marched up and down Santa Monica Boulevard to peacefully protest the death of George Floyd and violence inflicted by the police on black people. The crowd was overwhelmingly young, with most of the protesters being white along with some black and Asian protesters as well. City councilmember John D'Amico was among the protesters. The demonstrators marched west from the intersection of Santa Monica Boulevard and La Cienega Boulevard to reach San Vincente Boulevard. From there, the protesters turned to face the West Hollywood's Sheriff's Station. The crowd chanted “What do we want? Justice! When do we want it? Now!”, “Prosecute Killer Cops”, and “I Can’t Breathe.” The protesters also kneeled for 8 minutes and 46 seconds to commemorate the time that Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin kneeled on George Floyd's neck, killing him in the process.
- Westwood, Los Angeles: June 4: More than 1,000 people gathered outside of UCLA's Royce Hall and marched towards the UCLA Police Department.
- Whittier: May 31: Hundreds of people marched in the Uptown business district. On June 2, hundreds of people marched from Central Park to the police station, chanting "I Can't Breathe."
Orange County
- Aliso Viejo: A peaceful protest over the 73 roll road on Pacific Park Highway on 6/2/2020. On June 5, around 400 protesters demonstrators along the street to condemn police brutality and racism.
- Anaheim: June 1: More than 500 protesters marched from La Palma Park to Anaheim City Hall. A city curfew was declared for 7pm, followed by 25 arrests. No looting was reported.
- Brea: June 2: Hundreds of demonstrators participated in a march which included a silent protest in which they knelt in front of police officers.
- Costa Mesa: On June 4, 2020, around 500 demonstrators protested on Newport Blvd., while chanting and carrying signs. The protests started at around 4 p.m. in a parking lot at a Vons.
- Cypress: On June 5, 2020, protesters waved signs while marching on Katella Ave. to Winner's Circle. Hundreds of demonstrators attended the protest.
- Dana Point: On June 5, about a thousand protesters demonstrated at Dana Point Harbor to condemn the death of George Floyd and police brutality. This was the second Black Lives Matter protest in the city and the largest thus far. Protesters marched from Dana Point Harbor up along Golden Lantern toward Pacific Coast Highway, then toward Salt Creek Beach; the protest was entirely peaceful and many passing cars honked in approval.
- Huntington Beach: More than 500 people demonstrated at the Huntington Beach Pier at 11:30am on May 31. It was declared an unlawful assembly by 1pm after counter-protesters showed up.
- Irvine: May 31: dozens peacefully protested at Irvine City Hall. June 2: More than 150 returned for the third consecutive day of protests, kneeling for passing cars.
- La Habra: June 3: At least 200 protesters gathered to support the Black Lives Matter movement and protest the Killing of George Floyd in La Bonita Park.
- Laguna Beach: At least 100 protesters appeared at Main Beach in Laguna Beach to protest police brutality and systemic racism. Demonstrators held flowers, burned sage, and yelled "No justice, no peace." Protesters felt it was important for the affluent white neighborhood to show solidarity with the black community against racism.
- Los Alamitos: About 100 students and a few adults gathered near Los Alamitos High School to protest. They chanted "I can't breathe" and "Black Lives Matter".
- Newport Beach: June 3: Four peaceful protests were held. During the protests, a shirtless white man with a gun approached a black man and shouted "black lives don't matter." A car was driven into one of the protests. The driver was arrested. Hundreds of demonstrators attended the protest.
- Orange: On May 30, hundreds marched at the Orange Plaza.
- San Clemente: May 31: More than 700 people protested peacefully at the San Clemente Pier. June 1: Nearly 500 gathered at the pier.
- Santa Ana: On May 30, about 200 protesters gathered at McFadden Avenue and Bristol Street to protest the death of George Floyd.
- Westminster: On June 5, 2020, about 200 protesters gathered at Liberty Park. They sang "Happy Birthday" to Breonna Taylor. They then marched to the Westminster Civic Center. The protest was overall peaceful.
Riverside County
- Hemet: May 31: A protest happened at the Hemet Valley Mall with hundreds of protesters. This protest stuck with the recurring theme of opportunists taking advantage of an otherwise peaceful protest to loot. The Hemet Valley Mall was reportedly broken into, and merchandise stolen.
- La Quinta: June 2: About 50 to 60 people participated in a protest at La Quinta Community Park. On June 4, about 125 people showed up to Rancho Mirage Community Park and marched to Highway 111.
- Norco: On June 29, 2020, protesters and counter-protesters clashed. The protest was held at Neal Snipes Park before they marched to Norco City Hall.
- Palm Desert: June 1: "at least 500" protesters marched in a peaceful protest, starting at the Palm Desert Civic Center Park and walking along Fred Waring. Officers joined in, kneeling with protesters. Despite the county-imposed curfew of 6:00 pm, the protests extended beyond that time causing police to set off smoke bombs on the small remaining crowd.
- Palm Springs: June 1: A protest of 50 people started early near Palm Canyon downtown but eventually grew to 500. Protesters asked police officers to "kneel with us." Prayers were said. Organizers decided to cancel the event at one point but the crowds remained. Riverside County officials said that the reason for setting a curfew was in response to riots in other cities in southern California and only partially because of the planned protest. Palm Springs Mayor Geoff Kors, a former civil-rights attorney, said: "This isn't a curfew. This is government taking away our First Amendment rights."
- Rancho Mirage: June 3: More than 125 marchers chanted "No Justice! No peace!" along San Jacinto Drive and Highway 111 and Rancho Mirage Community Park.
- Riverside: Hundreds protested at a "Stand in Solidarity" demonstration outside the Robert Presley Detention Center and the Riverside Public Library. A "small amount" of arrests were made. A plane with a banner that said "We Love the Police" flew overheard.
- Temecula: On May 30, 2020, hundreds of protesters came to protest at the Temecula Duck Pond. Six hours into the protest, Riverside County sheriff's deputies issued a dispersal order.
San Bernardino County
- Apple Valley: On June 3, 2020, hundreds of protesters demonstrated at the corner of Jess Ranch Parkway and Bear Valley Road during the afternoon. At least two clashes occurred between protesters and counter-protesters, which involved a firearm. At one point, there were between 300 and 400 people at the event.
- Barstow: June 1: demonstrators protested at a Walmart on Montara Road shortly after 5 p.m.
- Big Bear Lake: A small group of protesters demonstrated at the entrance of Interlaken Center. During the middle of the day, more demonstrators joined the group.
- Chino: May 31: About 35 peaceful protesters demonstrated at the Chino City Hall from 1 to 3 p.m. On June 6, hundreds of protesters marched through the streets to peacefully protest racial inequality during a Black Lives Matter demonstration. The protest started on Yorba Avenue, and the demonstrators kneeled for 8 minutes and 46 seconds to commemorate the time that Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin kneeled on George Floyd's neck, killing him.
- Chino Hills: May 31: hundreds of demonstrators chanted and held up signs that said "No justice, no peace" and "Black Lives Matters" at the corners of Grand Avenue and Peyton Drive. On June 2, hundreds of community members gathered in a peaceful protest to condemn the murder of George Floyd. Mayor Art Bennett showed his support for the protest as well.
- Fontana: May 29: One hundred protesters took to the streets of downtown Fontana. Rioters blocked traffic on Sierra Avenue and threw rocks and bottles at cars and buildings. Some threw bottles at police. Nine arrests were made for vandalism of cars, buildings, and the Fontana City Hall.
- Joshua Tree/Twentynine Palms/Yucca Valley: In the afternoon of May 31, 2020, over 100 demonstrators protested on California State Route 62 and nearby streets.
- Montclair: May 31: at around 3 p.m., a peaceful protest occurred where demonstrators protested in Montclair and later traveled to the cities of Claremont and Pomona.
- Ontario: On June 6, 2020, around 300 protesters gathered at Ontario Mills and marched towards Rancho Cucamonga City Hall.
- Rancho Cucamonga: On May 29, 2020, hundreds of people attended a protest which started at 5 p.m. The protest was peaceful for two hours before they took over the intersection at Foothill Blvd. and Day Creek. Protesters prevented a bus from moving and attacked cars. Several demonstrators were arrested for failing to obey a legal dispersal order. On May 30, 2020, at least 200 people attended a protest at the intersection at Foothill Blvd. and Day Creek. They attempted to stop traffic on Interstate 15 but were stopped by California Highway Patrol officers. Later, they marched on Foothill Blvd. to Milliken Ave. By 4 p.m., about 100 protesters demonstrated at the corner.
- Redlands: On May 31, 2020, three protests occurred. In the largest of the three protests, people marched downtown and took a knee at Ed Hales Park on Fifth Street and outside of the Redlands Police Department.
- San Bernardino: On May 31, hundreds of protesters gathered outside City Hall and the San Bernardino Police Department, chanting "No justice, no peace! No racist police!" In response, California Highway Patrol officers were sent to keep demonstrators off the freeway lanes. A Bank of America was vandalized, several small fires were reported throughout the city, and water bottles and rocks were thrown at CHP officers.
- Upland: On June 1, 2020, several hundred protesters gathered at the intersection of Foothill Boulevard and Euclid Avenue. During the protest, a man was seen brandishing a gun at protesters. The man was arrested and booked at the West Valley Detention Center. Later in the protests, demonstrators blocked a street near Foothill Blvd. and Euclid Ave. and threw rocks and water bottles at police. In response to this, police officers fired pepper balls and sting balls.
- Victorville: May 31: at least 100 demonstrators protested and held up signs on the Bear Valley Road overpass. On the same day, a black man named Malcolm Harsch was found hanging from a tree near a homeless encampment in Victorville. The families of Mr. Harsch and Robert Fuller who was found hanging from a tree 50 miles away in Palmdale are challenging initial reports of suicide. The CHP and the FBI are investigating.
- Yucaipa: A peaceful protest occurred on May 30, 2020 at the corner of Oak Glen Road and Yucaipa Boulevard from noon to 4 p.m.
San Diego County
June 4: Law enforcement agencies in Carlsbad, Chula Vista, Coronado, El Cajon, Escondido, La Mesa, National City, Oceanside and San Diego, San Diego State University, University of California San Dieg
June 6: Hundreds of cars caravanned from La Jolla to Santee, City Heights, National City and finally Otay Mesa Detention Facility.
City of San Diego
- May 30: a car caravan organized by the "Racial Justice Coalition" drove through the Point Loma neighborhood. They intended to deliver a message to Mayor Kevin Faulconer at his home, but San Diego Police had barricaded the street.
- on May 31May 31: several hundred protesters at a "Justice for George" demonstration at the Hall of Justice shut down I-5 downtown. 97 people were arrested.
- June 1: Hundreds marched from Balboa Park to the Pride Flag in Hillcrest. A smaller group remained in the evening. SDPD declared an illegal assembly at 11:10pm saying fireworks and other objects were thrown at them. 17 people were arrested.
- June 2: Several hundreds gathered on the Bankers Hill side of Balboa Park, marched to the County Administration Building where they listened to speakers and then to the San Diego Civic Center.
- June 4: At least 2,000 demonstrators marched from San Diego Police Headquarters through Hillcrest to North Park around 5pm. A woman was dragged into an unmarked car by unidentified law enforcement officers. One of the officers could be heard saying to the protesters, "You follow us, you will get shot. Do you understand me?" San Diego police department later confirmed the individuals were law enforcement officers and said the woman had hit police with her protest sign. SDPD announced that the outcome arrest will be kept secret. Several dozen protested near Mira Mesa Recreation Center.
- June 5: A "paddle-out" to support Black Lives Matter organized by Black Girls Surf was held on La Jolla Shores.
- June 6: About 3,000 protested at the County Administration building downtown. About 300 protested in Del Mar Heights. In Pacific Beach, hundreds of surfers and other supporters organized a "Paddle for Peace" demonstration at Tourmaline Surfing Park. Demonstrators observe 8'46" of silence and surfers dropped flowers and leis on the waves at a synchronized moment. June 8: Nearly 100 gathered in the Trader Joe's parking lot for a march on Garnet Avenue. In University Heights, about 100 people protested at Texas Street and Adams Avenue.
- June 8: Protesters blocked roads and intersections in Hillcrest around 8pm. In La Jolla, a protest occurred in Kellogg Park.
- Organizers passed out carnations and signs to hundreds of protesters at La Jolla Cove.
- June 13: A rally called March & Rally: Defund the Police. Fund the People! organized by The Party for Socialism and Liberation - San Diego was held in Waterfront Park. Another group marched from Pacific Beach to Bonita Cove. Protesters also gathered outside the offices of right-wing cable channel One America News Network on Morena Boulevard. OANN CEO and founder Robert Herring Sr. asked the protesters to prove that a conspiracy theory about the Buffalo police shoving incident retweeted by Donald Trump is false.
- June 20: About 1000 skateboards rallied downtown at a "Rolling for Rights" gathering against systemic racism.
- June 28: The Pedal for Justice San Diego Coalition organized a bike ride event from downtown San Diego to Balboa Park to raise awareness for systemic racial injustices and to advocate for underserved communities who do not have safe access to outdoor sports.
La Mesa">La Mesa, California">La Mesa:
- May 29: The city was the site of the first protests in the county following Floyd's death, partly attributed to a video of a local arrest of another unarmed black man. Dozens of demonstrators gathered outside the La Mesa Police Department following a viral video of the Wednesday arrest at the San Diego Trolley station at Grossmont Transit Center, which resulted in a white officer being put on leave. Marchers say they felt compelled in light of what's happening nationally.
- May 30: about 1,000 protesters started at the police station and took to the streets, breaking through a police line and making their way to Interstate 8, where they blocked both sides of traffic. Back at the police station, graffiti was scrawled on the walls and some people threw rocks and bottles. Around 6 p.m., police began using tear gas, pepper balls, flash-bang, and rubber bullets to disperse the crowd. At about 8 p.m., looting began at a nearby Vons and Play It Again Sports at La Mesa Springs Shopping Center, and fires were started at that Vons and in downtown La Mesa at Chase Bank and Union Bank. The Play It Again Sports owner, who recovered some of his merchandise as looters fled, said most of the perpetrators were young, perhaps not even 18 years old. His said the store suffered an estimated $200,000 in damage. The violence also spread to Grossmont Center, which suffered vandalism and where the Walmart was looted. A 59 year old great-grandmother named Leslie Furcron was shot in the face by a rubber bullet. The graphic video went viral.
- June 1: Citizens, including a member of La Mesa City Council, have organized a "La Mesa Civil Defense" group on Facebook to "protect the town" by "standing in front of the buildings with fire extinguishers and garden hoses." The founder of the group stated they "haven't decided" whether they will work directly with authorities and one anonymous member of the group feared vigilanism.
- June 3: The National Guard has been called to La Mesa.
- June 5: The LMPD announced late Friday that it has dropped all of the charges against the man arrested at the Trolley station.
- June 10: Leslie Furcron gave a press conference after her release from the hospital after being shot in the face with a rubber bullet by La Mesa Police on May 30.
- June 14: Around 400 Black Lives Matter protesters, including more than 200 motorcyclists and women wearing hijabs, read a list of "non-negotiable demands" including a town hall meeting and the release of the name of the officer who shot Leslie Furcron in the face. The Chief of Police stated: “We are going to continue to work toward those .”
- August 1: Around 300 protesters gathered at La Mesa City Hall for a “We Demand Justice For Our Womxn Of Color” event. Several "physical altercations" occurred between the protesters and a civil defense group called "Defend East County." One counterprotester was arrested.
County
- 4S Ranch: June 2: Around 400 to 500 protesters demonstrated at a busy intersection. Earlier in the day, a car caravan protest starting at the 4S Ranch Library drove through Rancho Bernardo and adjacent communities.
- Cardiff: June 8: Doctors, nurses and health professionals rallied at Cardiff Kook at 2pm while another protest occurred at 5pm at Cardiff River Mouth Beach.
- Carlsbad: June 5: Hundreds of protesters rallied in Cannon Park where 8'46" of silence was observed. Carlsbad Police said they were investigating "a threat of violence against the rally" but the protest concluded peacefully.
- Chula Vista: More than 100 protesters in the Chula Vista Community Park calling for police reforms and equal justice. The mayor and chief of police knelt in silence with the group. On June 8, a 2 PM protest started at Chula Vista Community park and then marched down Eastlake Parkway.
- Coronado: May 31: A makeshift memorial for George Floyd was set up on a sidewalk near Coronado's central beach. It is growing as people leave notes, flowers and candles. June 13: About 150 students from the Coronado Unified School District spoke up about racism they experienced in schools.
- Encinitas: May 31: Hundreds gathered at the Magic Carpet Ride sculpture for a George Floyd memorial. San Diego Sheriff's deputies monitored the site. June 9: Between 300 and 400 high school students protested at Moonlight Beach and marched to an intersection on Coast Highway.
- Escondido: June 2: Protesters gathered outside of the Escondido Police Department. The demonstrators held up signs and chanted slogans. June 5: Several hundred Black Lives Matters activists gathered in front of Escondido City Hall.
- Imperial Beach: June 7: A protest was underway at Imperial Beach Pier Plaza when a police reform activist making a video was sucker-punched from behind by a tall man in a red shirt. The San Diego Sheriff's office interviewed a subject but did not get a positive ID.
- Julian: A protest occurred on June 4.
- Oceanside: June 4: A peaceful protest took place. June 7: Hundreds gathered for a Black Lives Matter rally in Oceanside. One of the organizers of the rally defused a potentially volatile situation when a 16 year old white male was spotted "carrying a knife and acting strangely" at the rally.
- Poway:
- *June 4: More than 100 marched from a busy intersection, crossed to the adjacent intersection and laid down on the ground for nine minutes.
- *June 25: About 100 protesters rallied at a major intersection chanting and holding signs reading "Everyone vs. Racism" and "All Lives Don't Matter Until Black Lives Matter."
- Ramona: June 1: Protesters chanting "Black Lives Matter" were confronted by self-described patriots who "aimed to defend Ramona against violence." June 2: More than 100 protesters carried signs reading “Justice for George Floyd" and "“End police brutality” at a busy intersection. Standing among them were "community peacekeepers" carrying Trump signs.
- Rancho Peñasquitos: June 9: A few hundred demonstrators gathered for a candlelight vigil at Rancho Peñasquitos Towne Center on a Tuesday night.
- Santee: June 2: A man and a woman were arrested on weapons and child endangerment charges after allegedly pointing a semi-automatic handgun at Black Lives Matters protesters at a major intersection. June 3: Approximately 200 protesters gathered at the same intersection. Multiple arrests were made for curfew violations. June 8: A protest marched from West Hills Parkway to the bridge over Santee Recreational Lakes.
- Solana Beach: June 3: Over 200 protesters carried signs in front of Solana Beach City Hall Wednesday morning.
Santa Barbara County
- Lompoc: May 30: Large gathering held. June 2: Evening march to police station where protesters kneel. City council delays meeting till June 3 due to demonstration.
- Santa Barbara: May 30: Hundreds gathered for a demonstration at Storke Tower on the UCSB campus.
- Santa Maria: June 4: An estimated 150 people protested outside Santa Maria City Hall in support of George Floyd. The event was supported by numerous nonprofit organizations, including the local NAACP.
- Solvang: On June 5, 2020, about 200 protesters demonstrated at Solvang Park, where they knelt down for 8 minutes and 46 seconds. Protesters then marched on Mission Drive, calling for justice. Some businesses boarded up their windows before the protest as a precaution.
Ventura County
- Oxnard: May 30: More than 300 protesters marched from Plaza Park to the Oxnard Police Department.
- Simi Valley: On June 6, thousands of protesters marched on the streets and halted traffic. It was the same city in which four officers were found not guilty of beating Rodney King.
- Thousand Oaks: May 30: More than 100 protesters gathered at a busy intersection.
- Ventura: On June 7, around 1,500 people gathered at the Ventura County Government Center to peacefully protest the death of George Floyd. There was an incident where a white pick-up truck allegedly drove into the crowd, hitting a pedestrian, then drove away.
Deaths and crime rate
On June 2 in Vallejo, 22-year-old Sean Monterrosa was shot five times and killed by a police officer while on his knees with his hands up. When Moterrosa lifted his hands, a 15-inch hammer tucked in his pocket was revealed, which was mistaken for a handgun. The officer involved, who was not named but was identified as an 18-year veteran, fired five shots at Monterrosa through the window of the unmarked vehicle he was driving.
The Los Angeles Police Department announced that "homicides went up 250% and victims shot went up 56%" from May 31 to June 6.