"Fuck Donald Trump" and "Fuck the police" playing, smell of weed, nose rings galore

"Fuck Donald Trump" and "Fuck the police" playing, smell of weed, nose rings galore. It started out with 50 people, now about 100 here, with more arriving. The "Fuck Donald Trump" played a few times.

Signs overwhelmingly focus on black lives matter and denigrating the police. " All lives can't matter until black lives matter", "Fuck the police", "Police are a racist institution" and "No good cops, the bad ones are accountable..." then she put her sign down.

Rodney Johnson was standing away from the protesters. I have seen Johnson over the years.

Yesterday, he was a part of the protest in the rain
 "I told them standing here is not going to do anything. Let's shut down the streets. I was the first person on Fifth street. The black truck was next to me. The police did the right thing, they shut down H street. I spoke with the police chief and captain."

"The next thing you do is hit em economically," said Johnson. "Stop going to Safeway, any major corporation. Have them hold the officers accountable."  Yesterday, EPD Chief Steve Watson invited Johnson to talk further, over coffee.

Even Johnson said most of the protestors are not local. Johnson said he graduated the Academy in 1984 and wanted to be a police officer. The County of Humboldt offered him another job. "All cops are not bad but you got hold them accountable." EPD Captain Brian Stephens is talking with Johnson now.

EPD and HCSO are watching from a distance. CHP is here. A protestor came up and held a sign in front of an EPD patrol vehicle. Then he held two signs.

The protesters did not apply for a permit. Acting City Manager Pam Powell said they don't need one if they stay on the sidewalk and the lawn of the Courthouse. When they were on 101 yesterday,in the streets, that is CALTRANS and CHP jurisdiction

7 p.m. So far, speeches and kneeling and more speeches. Some honking in support. About 150 people now with three or four people arriving. The protestors are marching around the Courthouse. More people are arriving.

EPD Chief  Watson and Sheriff William Honsal hug two of the protestors  and join them while they were outside EPD headquarters.

This was just one car parked in the area. California license plate in the front but how local and for how long? I saw a woman exit with signs in the first photo.

7:45: More people arriving. Most are young. Some people are watching from cars parked a block or two away.