LANSING, Mich. — Many people made their way to the State Capitol Thursday morning, but they weren't protesting the governor's stay-home order.
A rally against hate was hosted by a firearm instructor and Second Amendment activist Rick Ector following recent national police acts.
Attendees like Karen Bethune said they're sick of the violence against people of color and don't know how much more they can take.
"I'm tired. Every time I turn on the news I got to see one of my black brothers getting killed, or one of my black sisters being beat down," said Bethune, who drove from Detroit.
The latest incident happened earlier this week in Minneapolis. A black man, George Floyd, died in police custody after a white police officer was seen on video kneeling against his neck.
Ector is the owner of Legally Armed in Detroit and says he turned his sadness and anger over what happened into putting on the "Rally Against Hate."
"I said you know what, I'm surprised someone hasn't done it already. Okay, I'm going to do it I'm going to organize a rally against hate. Let's hold the the evil, dangerous people in our society accountable and let's talk about eliminating this dreadful scourge in our society," said Ector.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said officer Derek Chauvin should be charged in the death of George Floyd. The footage recorded by a bystander shows Chauvin with his knee on Floyd's neck as Floyd gasps for breath on the ground with his face against the pavement. The officer does not move for at least eight minutes, even after Floyd stops speaking and moving.
“I've wrestled with, more than anything else over the last 36 hours, one fundamental question: Why is the man who killed George Floyd not in jail?” said Frey, who is white.
On Tuesday, protesters in Minneapolis marched more than 2 miles Tuesday to the police precinct in that part of the city following the incident, with some damaging property and skirmishing with officers in riot gear who fired tear gas. Conflict erupted again Wednesday at the same precinct, with some protesters throwing rocks and bottles at police.
The death of Floyd led several Michigan residents to the Capitol to speak out.
"We as African Americans have the ability to take control of our environment and our community," one of the speakers said.
During the rally, parents said they were scared for their children's future, worrying that it could be their kids on the news next.
"I have a half black grandson. I need to make sure that his world is in tact when I leave. With all the stuff that's going on, I don't know if he's going to be next," said Benjamin Singer.
Some demonstrators at the rally called on African Americans to utilize their Second Amendment rights.
Later on in the afternoon, Detroit Police Chief James Craig held a press conference, applauding the firing of the four police officers involved in the death of George Floyd.
Craig said he condemns "this awful tragic death."
However, despite those actions, Craig said,"It's important we don't paint any police organization with a broad brush."
"We value our relationship with our community," Craig said.
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