Thousands of Black Lives Matter marchers filled the sidewalks of Golden Gate Bridge on June 6 to protest racism and police brutality. Protesters chanted, kneeled, and observed eight minutes and 45 seconds of silence as a reminder of the length of time Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin spent kneeling on the neck of George Floyd. That incident sparked nationwide outrage and daily protests that have lasted nearly two weeks.
Marchers eventually spilled out into traffic, blocking the southbound lanes and marching through the MacArthur tunnel on their way to City Hall.
At the start of today’s Black Lives Matter march across Golden Gate Bridge: Loren, Grace and baby Cypress Farese preparing for the protest. pic.twitter.com/ajTpXF5eX3
— San Francisco Public Press (@SFPublicPress) June 6, 2020
Follow @SFPublicPress for my by-the-minute coverage of the protest march across the Golden Gate Bridge. #BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/X5Ibt7stss
— Brian Howey (@SteelandBallast) June 6, 2020
SFPD advising demonstrators not to bring large backpacks on the bridge. Some yelled back “We keep us safe!” pic.twitter.com/vWZ3NXPbru
— San Francisco Public Press (@SFPublicPress) June 6, 2020
Protesters gathering at Golden Gate Bridge. pic.twitter.com/SevtlgvQKZ
— San Francisco Public Press (@SFPublicPress) June 6, 2020
The crowd chants #BlackLivesMatter as they prepare to march across the Golden Gate Bridge. pic.twitter.com/mxdklDFcTv
— San Francisco Public Press (@SFPublicPress) June 6, 2020
We had some technical difficulties with video, so below tweets with degraded video, we’re posting a separate tweet with a higher-quality version of that same video wherever possible. The first example is immediately below.
— Brian Howey (@SteelandBallast) June 7, 2020
Robert Bates from San Jose says he’s “trying to bring change wherever I can” and that he’s “hoping for police reform after the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and everyone else the police are supposed to protect.” pic.twitter.com/Wmv9ePDVts
— San Francisco Public Press (@SFPublicPress) June 6, 2020
Renzo Fukuda, 13, and his brother Diego, 10. Diego is here “because we need justice for George Floyd. We’ve dealt with racism for over 400 years. It has to stop.” pic.twitter.com/NSrIq2CoBt
— San Francisco Public Press (@SFPublicPress) June 6, 2020
— Brian Howey (@SteelandBallast) June 7, 2020
— Brian Howey (@SteelandBallast) June 7, 2020
Protesters kneel in the middle of Golden Gate Bridge. pic.twitter.com/W5nRwC11wd
— San Francisco Public Press (@SFPublicPress) June 6, 2020
Protesters, still kneeling, chant, “I can’t breathe! I can’t breathe! I can’t breathe!” pic.twitter.com/LxYbIEmbkO
— San Francisco Public Press (@SFPublicPress) June 6, 2020
— Brian Howey (@SteelandBallast) June 7, 2020
Protesters have taken over the southbound lanes of Golden Gate Bridge. pic.twitter.com/dvv7598rGM
— San Francisco Public Press (@SFPublicPress) June 6, 2020
— Brian Howey (@SteelandBallast) June 7, 2020
— Brian Howey (@SteelandBallast) June 7, 2020
— Brian Howey (@SteelandBallast) June 7, 2020
After reaching the north end of the bridge … pic.twitter.com/9Qxlx6i6QK
— San Francisco Public Press (@SFPublicPress) June 6, 2020
… protesters start walking back south. pic.twitter.com/CcHFkmF465
— San Francisco Public Press (@SFPublicPress) June 6, 2020
Berkeley residents Tucker Gibbons and her mother, Brie Ducey. Ducey used different phrasing for her sign. “I’m white and I can breathe, so it just seems like a natural thing,” she said. pic.twitter.com/dHBR6ABcDP
— San Francisco Public Press (@SFPublicPress) June 6, 2020
Protesters take over traffic lanes on the southbound side of the bridge. pic.twitter.com/4BVpZAFhbI
— San Francisco Public Press (@SFPublicPress) June 6, 2020
Protesters block Golden Gate Bridge traffic. pic.twitter.com/CaExi7sZ3f
— San Francisco Public Press (@SFPublicPress) June 6, 2020
Drivers seem to largely support the protests despite the delays caused by folks taking over traffic lanes. pic.twitter.com/yaqJQYa3Se
— San Francisco Public Press (@SFPublicPress) June 6, 2020
Here’s a hi-res version of the protesters taking over the southbound lanes of the Golden Gate Bridge today. pic.twitter.com/jZlWKwwXRk
— Brian Howey (@SteelandBallast) June 6, 2020
Cristina Garcia was stopped in her car by the march as it spilled into the southbound lane of the Golden Gate Bridge. “Here I am on the bridge, stuck, and I couldn’t be more supportive,” she said. pic.twitter.com/kThDK4Bn7h
— San Francisco Public Press (@SFPublicPress) June 6, 2020
Officers try to keep protesters contained to the southbound lane of Golden Gate Bridge. pic.twitter.com/Lk1pDUEJzV
— San Francisco Public Press (@SFPublicPress) June 6, 2020
Protesters stop to chant George Floyd’s name. pic.twitter.com/rJm9JS7Ian
— San Francisco Public Press (@SFPublicPress) June 6, 2020
— Brian Howey (@SteelandBallast) June 7, 2020
— Brian Howey (@SteelandBallast) June 7, 2020
— Brian Howey (@SteelandBallast) June 7, 2020
Here’s a hi-res version of that video. pic.twitter.com/wuRgb9i6XU
— Brian Howey (@SteelandBallast) June 7, 2020
Here’s a high-res version of the positively electric vibe in the tunnel today. pic.twitter.com/lQmnnoeAja
— Brian Howey (@SteelandBallast) June 6, 2020
Protesters head toward Presidio Boulevard. Next stop, we’re told: City Hall. pic.twitter.com/PYHblpXK3N
— San Francisco Public Press (@SFPublicPress) June 6, 2020
San Francisco protesters eventually reach City Hall. pic.twitter.com/q82z5Yp2xq
— San Francisco Public Press (@SFPublicPress) June 6, 2020
Marquez Shaw pleads for people to be vulnerable with one another: “I challenge you to go on social media and say, I’m willing to help you with my privilege; you can come talk to me.” pic.twitter.com/O115omnQeq
— San Francisco Public Press (@SFPublicPress) June 7, 2020
Andrew Vergil, the final speaker as today’s Golden Gate Bridge march winds down, advocates for demilitarizing cops and getting them out of schools: “Police — they’re not supposed to be military. When they become the military, that’s when we see problems.” pic.twitter.com/aIR9RlIseB
— San Francisco Public Press (@SFPublicPress) June 7, 2020
Correction: Andrew’s last name is Verrilla.
Aakash Sarang, left, was nearby when Nathan Walters, middle, and Alixandra Ramos, right, joined protesters blocking traffic on the Golden Gate Bridge, but he hesitated: “These guys can afford to get arrested. I would probably have more trouble if I do get arrested.” pic.twitter.com/tYOUpd9QGk
— San Francisco Public Press (@SFPublicPress) June 7, 2020