‘I can’t breathe’: Sonoma Plaza protesters march for George Floyd

More than 100 demonstrators took to the Sonoma Plaza on Tuesday evening to protest the May 25 killing of George Floyd, a 46-year-old African-American who died under the knee-hold of a white Minneapolis police officer. The incident has sparked protests and unrest in cities throughout the country. Sonoma demonstrators laid face down with hands behind their backs in front of City Hall as if under arrest, marched through the downtown chanting “black lives matter,” “stop racist cops” and “I can’t breathe” - a reference to Floyd’s last words - and assembled along Napa Street to wave signs before passing cars. Most passersby honked in support of the protesters; a few shouted dissent.

Some businesses boarded up windows out of concern over vandalism that in recent days has accompanied similar protests in other cities. The Plaza demonstration, however, remained peaceful.