SALT LAKE CITY — Two protests decrying police violence, especially shootings against black men, gathered outside Salt Lake police headquarters and spilled into the streets Saturday.

More than 300 protesters turned out for the larger, more emotional rally Saturday evening. The group shut down roads including State Street and drew onlookers from restaurants and businesses as they marched, calling out chants of "Black lives matter," condemning police brutality in Utah and across the country and decrying racism.

No police were present at the protest, but a small number of officers appeared as the group started marching to stop traffic and allow the group to walk safely through the streets. They were met by vulgarity and rude gestures from some of the protesters.

As they marched from the Salt Lake Public Safety Building to the office of Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill, they also called for Gill to be ousted for failing to release police body camera footage of the shooting that wounded 17-year-old Abdullahi Mohamed on Feb. 27 near the homeless shelter on Rio Grande Street, and for letting two years pass without video coming to light of the apparent violent altercation with Michelle Siguenza Anderson, 43, by a Salt Lake police officer.

The protests played out against a backdrop of national tension.

Both local demonstrations were scheduled after two black men were shot by police in Louisiana and Minnesota earlier this week, with video of their deaths spreading rapidly online and sparking debate nationwide.

In the midst of that turmoil, a man in Dallas positioned himself in a parking garage and fired from above on officers monitoring a protest against police violence on Thursday, killing five officers and wounding seven.

Speakers at the rally Saturday evening voiced outrage over officer-involved shootings and demanded selective hiring, improved training for police officers to try to prevent deadly encounters, and increased community oversight of law enforcement. Several people also called for protesters, especially those who were participating for the first time, to continue involvement.

"We are sick and tired of police murdering us, shooting us, assaulting us, and then covering it up and getting away with it. The families of these people deserve better, every citizen of Salt Lake deserves better than this garbage," said Hayven Jackson, one of the event's organizers.

Jackson, who is black, also decried blindness by "privileged" white Utahns to the challenges American minorities face. Jackson specifically called out a group of fewer than 10 Donald Trump supporters who hovered at the edge of the crowd.

Additionally, speakers repeatedly referenced the deaths of two white men shot and killed by Salt Lake police — James Dudley Barker, 42, and Dillon Taylor, 20 — in incidents that were later ruled justified by Gill. Family members of both of the men addressed the crowd.

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Heidi Keilbaugh, Barker's partner, described the former Avenues resident as a creative musician who was kind to everyone he met. Before his death, the couple had watched news coverage of other officer-involved killings and Barker had voiced deep sorrow and confusion over the violence, Keilbaugh said.

"Little did we know he'd be dead months later," Keilbaugh said. "He was kind, he was soft spoken, and he did not deserve to die. Nor did the beautiful black men who died this week."

Afternoon protest

About 70 people gathered on the plaza outside the public safety building on Saturday afternoon as part of a demonstration called "In solidarity with Black Lives Matter." No law enforcement was present at the event.

The Black Lives Matter demonstration was mostly peaceful, but the group moved into traffic and blocked drivers as it marched with signs and banners through a few nearby streets. As they walked, they chanted familiar protests of "Black lives matter" and "No justice, no peace, no killer police."

While simultaneously lamenting the deaths of the officers in Dallas, one of the event's organizers, Deyvid Morales, told the group that "murder should not be justified because you hold a badge."

"If you do not feel served and protected, if you get pulled over and do not feel safe, then there is something wrong," Morales said. "I believe we can come together and grieve both sides."

Jessica Lee, a Salt Lake resident, said she was speaking on behalf of black mothers and parents on Saturday.

"It's terrifying to be the mother of a black child," Lee said. "It's terrifying to know that my son next year will be out driving. So I have constantly grilled him about what to say, what not to say. Things like 'Yes sir' and 'No ma'am,' you need to be respectful. But even then, when you're following instructions given by the police officer and you're being respectful, they shoot you anyways."

Another focus of the demonstration, which was attended by Utahns of several races, was the message that any people who are concerned about the tension between black men and law enforcement should speak up.

Carl Moore Jr. of Orem came to the rally in his traditional Native American dress and performed a dance he said was meant to honor all races and opinions, including police officers. While there are many groups and ethnicities currently facing hardship, Moore said, the plight of black men is one all of society needs to immediately address.

"Native American people are suffering too, but this isn't the time," Moore said. "Black men are being killed."

Contributing: Ashton Goodell

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