NORFOLK, Va. — On June 6 and 7, protests only picked up in Hampton Roads after weeks of people speaking out against the death of George Floyd in police custody.
Sunday featured marches in several local cities, including a march meant for children in Chesapeake and a prayer march with faith leaders in Norfolk. There were also demonstrations in Portsmouth and Gloucester County.
Sporting all kinds of cloth masks, protesters marched, chanted and prayed through the sunny, 80-degree June day.
Hundreds showed up to the prayer march at Norfolk's City Hall at 3 p.m. 13News Now's Angelo Vargas was on the scene, capturing video of the protesters and their signs.
Portsmouth also had a sit-down prayer vigil at the LOVE sculpture that overlooks the Elizabeth River.
The demonstrations call for unity, racial justice and police accountability.
They come on the cusp of Virginia Beach Police releasing a statement on their policies meant to treat people fairly, and the head of Portsmouth's NAACP chapter scheduling a meeting with the local police department to discuss their use of force rules.