[brk_slideshow title=”Berkeley Black Lives Matter protests”]

We are keeping track of George Floyd/Black Lives Matter protests happening in Berkeley. (See our coverage of the large protests that took place over the weekend of June 6-7.)

If you know of other marches, rallies or vigils not on this list, let us know by emailing tips@berkeleyside.com.

Mondays in August 

  • 4:45-5:45 p.m. | Signs for Social Justice. Want to raise your voice in protest, but concerned about social distancing? Sign waving may be the solution for you. Organized by local residents, this weekly demonstration meets at the southwestern corner of Sacramento and University and spreads out from there. Bring signs, voices, family and a commitment to change. Wear masks and observe safe distances. Keep graphic material non-violent.

Fridays in July

  • 5 p.m. | Silent, socially distanced Black Lives Matter vigil. Protesters are asked to wear masks and socially distance at least 6 feet. This vigil takes place on the Crescent Lawn at UC Berkeley’s west campus facing Oxford Street at the intersection of University Avenue. It was scheduled every Friday in June, and will continue as a space of solidarity with BLM. More dates TBD.

Monday, July 20 

  • 11:30 | McDonald’s, fast food workers in strike for Black Lives. The protest will begin at Mosswood Park in Oakland and travel to the McDonalds at 1918 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley. There will be a rally at the McDonalds at 1:45 p.m. The action is organized by several groups, including Fight for $15 and local labor unions, and is one of several rallies throughout the country. The workers will walk off their jobs “for eight minutes, 46 seconds to remember George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Elijah McClain and other Black people killed by police and demand an end to the systemic racism,” according to Fight for $15.

Monday, July 13

  • 1 p.m. | Youth Protect The Bay, a new women-led youth group, is organizing a March to Camp Out protest to help push the conversation forward about defunding the police.”
    The protest starts at Bushrod Park in Oakland and will march to Berkeley Police HQ. Wear a mask. More details on Instagram. Email youthprotectthebay@gmail.com.

Wednesday, July 8

  • 4:30 p.m. | Black Lives Matter Berkeley March Ryukichi Santiago, 11, and Eloui Santiago, 9, are organizing this protest “in the hope of showing people that the current system of how we treat Black and Brown people is not okay, and that police brutality needs to be stopped. We especially want to call attention to LGBTQ+ people of color and disabled people of color.” Starting at Moellering Field on Milvia and Derby streets and then marching to Berkeley Police Department headquarters at 2100 MLK Jr. Way. Short rallies with speakers at both ends of the march. ASL interpreting and easy access for wheelchairs. Details.

Saturday, June 27

  • 1-3 p.m. | Say Her Name Peaceful protest organized by Berkeley High in honor of the one-year anniversary of Shukri Abdi’s body being found, “in recognition of all the identities which have been neglected in the fight against police brutality and systemic racism.” March from Berkeley High School to Willard Park.
  • 2 p.m. | Black Lives Matter Car Caravan for Change: The Berkeley Social Distance Protest — sponsored by Laura Babitt for Berkeley School Board, Covenant Church, NAACP Berkeley, The Way and Berkeley Schools staff and parent — meets at North Berkeley BART station at 2 p.m. and departs 2:20 p.m. driving through Berkeley to end at the parking lot of now-closed Hs Lordships at the Berkeley Marina. Rally from approximately 3-4:30 p.m. drive-in style.

Friday, June 26

  • 6-8 p.m. | Freedom is Rising Neighbors Elana Auerbach and Bekka Fink are organizing this family-friendly ritual sing and speak out action at 2180 Martin Luther King Way, in front of Old City Hall. “We will sing, we will listen, we will speak, we will act, we will UNITE.” Musicians Michelle Jacques, Amber Field and Austin Willacy will be there. Bring your signs (End White Silence, Black Lives Matter, No One is Free Until We’re All Free, Racism is a Pandemic). Please wear a mask and maintain 6 feet between you and others while at the action.
  • 5 p.m. | Silent, socially distanced Black Lives Matter vigil. Protesters are asked to wear masks and socially distance at least 6 feet. This vigil takes place on the Crescent Lawn at UC Berkeley’s west campus facing Oxford Street at the intersection of University Avenue.

Thursday,  June 25

  • 4:30-6 p.m. | Berkeley School Kids and Parents Speak Out Parents at Washington Elementary School have been organizing a Black Lives Matter-centered, family-friendly protest every Thursday in June. This will be the last one. Kids, parents and community members from across the Bay Area are welcome. Meet at the corner of Martin Luther King Jr. Way and Bancroft. Please bring signs supporting the Black Lives Matter movement, sidewalk chalk, bubbles and noisemakers, and adhere to all social distance protocol

Tuesday, June 23

  • 3 p.m. | Pay Your Dues Berkeley High students and UC Berkeley Black Students Union are organizing protest to interrogate Berkeley’s legacy of racism, and reinvest in the Black community. They will meet at Ashby BART station and march to Codornices Park at the Berkeley Rose Garden to “wake up the white, rich hills of North Berkeley.” Protesters are asked to wear a mask.

Saturday, June 20

  • 9-11 a.m. | Chalking Because Black Lives Matter Neighborhoods are invited to chalk sidewalks with calls to end police violence and vocalize support for Black Lives Matter. This action is organized by parents and can be joined wherever you live.
  • 4:30-5:30 p.m. | Westbrae Silent Vigil in Support of Black Lives The vigil will be at Gilman Avenue and Curtis Street at Santa Fe Avenue, and extend east and west along the Gilman sidewalk. Protesters will “silently honor the lives lost, the grief and anger and determination we feel, and our commitment to ending police violence and white racism.” It is a socially distant, nonviolent action and protesters are asked to wear masks. More information is available from mahfurda@yahoo.com or at sixnineteen.com.

Friday, June 19

  • 5:30-6:30 p.m. | Stand United Against Racism and in support of Black Lives Matter: a protest organized by neighbors and held at Indian Rock Park in North Berkeley after a racist incident took place there.

Thursday, June 18

  • 4 p.m. | Children’s March for Black Lives Matter Organized by homeschooled student Hadeya Itote, children will march from College Avenue and Russell Street to the Rockridge Area, and back, in solidarity with Black Lives Matter. 
  • 4:30-6 p.m. | Washington Elementary School Family-Friendly Black Lives Matter Protest. Meet at Martin Luther King Jr. Way and Bancroft with signs, chalk, bubbles, and noisemakers. Wear masks and adhere to social distancing protocols.

Wednesday, June 17

  • 4-5 p.m. | ‘Honk and wave’ protest on Shattuck Avenue and Vine Street. Masks and signs are strongly encouraged, and protesters can participate from their car or by standing on the street corner with “Black Lives Matter” and “End White Silence” signs.

Saturday, June 13

  • 11 a.m.-2 p.m. | Taking a knee for change: Say their names Protesters will meet at Rockridge BART in Oakland and march to Sproul Plaza in Berkeley. Attendees are asked to wear a mask.
  • Noon | Prayer March organized by The Way Berkeley, starting at The Way at 1305 University Ave. and ending at the Berkeley Police Department headquarters, to call for the resignation of BPD Chief Andrew Greenwood.

Friday, June 12

  • 4-5 p.m. | #Blacklivesmatter and #Endwhitesilence Corner of Ashby and Shattuck Avenues. “Done with politicians and pundits telling you to be “orderly”? Then come and rally with us!” People driving by who agree are asked to honk their horns.

Thursday, June 11

  • 4:30-6 p.m. | Washington Elementary School Family-Friendly Black Lives Matter Protest Meet at Martin Luther King Jr. Way and Bancroft with signs, chalk, bubbles, and noisemakers. Wear masks and adhere to social distancing protocols.

Wednesday, June 10

  • 6:15 p.m | Avalon Neighborhood Takes a Knee Neighbors around Monkey Island in the Claremont district will come together to hold a minute of silence, take a knee, and hold up signs, Face masks and social distancing will be practiced.

Tuesday, June 9

  • 4 p.m. | Stand with Black Youth protest and march, organized by students at Berkeley High School. Protesters will meet at San Pablo Park and march to Berkeley High. Masks and social distancing are encouraged.
  • 5 p.m. | Kids Bike 4 Racial Justice Berkeley middle schoolers, parents, teachers and friends will bike from King Middle School to Berkeley City Hall. Students under 15 need an adult. Face masks and helmets are required.

Monday, June 8

  • 4-5 p.m. | A honk and wave action” is planned at the intersection of College and Ashby avenues.
  • 4:30-6 p.m | Berkeley Arts Magnet elementary school Stand Out for Black Lives is being held to solidarity with the Black community while “creating a future of activated leaders who can create big systemic change.” Families are invited to meet on socially distant circles on the sidewalk near BAM. They will gather on Virginia Street outside BAM, and move to Shattuck Avenue for community visibility. Bring homemade signs, banners, sidewalk chalk, noisemakers and masks.
  • 9 p.m. | Shine a Light for Social Justice Mayor Jesse Arreguín has called on the Berkeley community to step outside their homes to shine a light in the air and to observe one minute of silence in honor of George Floyd.

Sunday, June 7

  • 7 p.m | A candlelight vigil for George Floyd, organized by Berkeley resident Barry Cowan and friends —  7 p.m. at the downtown Berkeley BART entrance on Center Street and Shattuck Avenue by the Chase Bank. This event will be peaceful, and we ask everyone to please bring a candle, wear a mask, and practice safe distancing.

Saturday, June 6

  • 10-11 a.m | Health Care for Black Lives Matter/White Coats for Black Lives, UC Berkeley chapter, is holding a vigil at Berkeley Way and Walnut Street. One of the demands is to declare racism and police violence a public health emergency. Those joining should wear their white coats, scrubs and a mask.
  • 1 p.m. | Students are organizing a BLM Solidarity demonstration that will start at Civic Center Park and continue as a sit-in in front of the police department, the Ronald Tsukamoto Public Safety Building at 2100 Martin Luther King Jr. Way. The first nine minutes of the sit-in will be in silence. The Minneapolis police officer who killed George Floyd held his knee on his neck for eight minutes and 46 seconds. The organizers of this event (who have not identified themselves) ask for people to socially distance as much as possible.
  • 3:30 p.m. | City Council members Ben Bartlett, Cheryl Davila, Kate Harrison and Rigel Robinson are leading a Funeral Procession to Bury Racism, a Family Friendly March. “The New Orleans style funeral procession will begin at Malcolm X Elementary School, where participants will gather in solidarity to read the names of George Floyd and other victims of racial terror, before marching to Martin Luther King Jr. Civic Center Park,” according to an announcement.
  • 4 p.m. | The California Black Student Union will have a Peaceful Solidarity Black Lives Matter protest at Grove Park, 1730 Oregon St. The group will march to the police department.

Friday, June 5

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