Demonstrators chanted the names of black people killed by police in recent years, as well as Floyd鈥檚 last words before he died while a police officer kneeled on his neck: 鈥淚 can鈥檛 breathe.鈥�
Stacy Hoffman of Medford said she was just driving by when she saw the crowd and decided to stop.
鈥淚鈥檓 a black woman living in Medford, Oregon,鈥� Hoffman said. 鈥淲hen people say, 鈥楻acism doesn鈥檛 exist,鈥� or, 鈥業 don鈥檛 see color.鈥� No, there are lots of people here that do. And yes I do have difficulties, that鈥檚 part of why I march on MLK day.鈥�
Luis Sanchez was standing alone on the outskirts of the crowd.
鈥淎s a person of color, to be present to be heard, to finally have a moment to speak out 鈥� That鈥檚 why I鈥檓 quiet, I guess. So many people are hurt by this,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 generations and generations of hurt and pain.鈥�
Demonstrators remained peaceful, but tensions rose later in the evening.
Several frustrated drivers pushed through the crowds that were blocking streets, and one aggressively drove through protesters, possibly injuring someone. Medford Police say they鈥檙e investigating that incident. They also arrested a motorist who pushed his car through protesters in the street while waving a handgun.
A couple of dozen armed civilians who declined to identify themselves patrolled downtown Medford most of the night. They said they were protecting businesses, although there appears to have been no vandalism or looting by protesters.
This is the largest rally I've ever seen in the Rogue Valley. Completely peaceful protest in Medford so far. There's a lot of passion and energy.
— April Ehrlich (@AprilEhrlich)
