MEMPHIS, Tenn. — City leaders were grateful that Sunday night’s Black Lives Matter protests were peaceful.
That does not mean tensions did not run high.
WREG cameras captured many thought-provoking, tense moments at the protests.
“My life matters. What y’all going to do? What y’all going to do? Y’all going to shoot me too?” one protestor shouted at officers.
There were several heated, verbal exchanges between protestors and police.
“That’s the problem with our society. That is it, because everybody keeps holding onto the past. This is the present,” one officer told protestors.
There were stressful moments between the media and people on the street too. Some protestors cursed at news crews covering events.
The city confirms the protests did not lead to any arrests or injuries.
In fact, city leaders praised protestors for a peaceful night.
Still, WREG cameras captured emotional moments, including when protestors chose to try to return to the I-40 bridge. Many protestors left the bridge earlier, marching with Interim Police Director Michael Rallings to FedExForum.
“We’ve got to go to the bridge. We’ve got to go to this bridge. They’re about to lock people up that’s on the bridge. We’ve got to move together. Come on. Let’s go,” one protestor told the crowd.
Several protestors asked men to move to the front of the group, as they approached law enforcement.
Though both sides showed restraint, WREG witnessed one protestor punch and damage a car.
Some people vocally discouraged fellow protestors from acting out.