Marchers, police in standoff during Columbia protest of George Floyd’s death

Several thousand people rallied in Columbia Saturday to protest the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.

Initially, the protesters marched to the State House carrying signs with messages that included “Indict. Convict. Throw the Killer Cops in Jail,” “No Justice No Peace” and “I can’t breathe.”

At the State House, the crowd sang “Amazing Grace.”

Later the protest became more tense when several hundred people marched to the Columbia Police Department, where officers in riot gear set up a barricade. A few protesters threw water bottles. The police and the crowd were in a standoff at mid Saturday afternoon, with protesters taunting police.

Protesters removed the United States and South Carolina flags from in front of the police agency and set fire to the U.S. flag. The South Carolina flag was destroyed.

Floyd died Monday after being arrested in Minneapolis. A video shows a police officer kneeling on Floyd’s neck for nearly nine minutes, authorities said.

The protest was organized by People Demand Action, who said on Friday that the group would gather at Columbia City Hall and march down Main Street to the State House.

It’s one of two protests planned for Columbia on Saturday. The second is scheduled to start at 5 p.m. at Earlewood Park, 1113 Recreation Dr.

The Party for Socialism and Liberation, which will be conducting the second demonstration, will lead a caravan of cars with protest signs to the State House before looping back to Earlewood Park, according to a news release.

“Protesters will stay in their vehicles to adhere to social distancing guidelines,” according to the release.

Floyd died after being arrested on suspicion of using a counterfeit bill at a store.

On Friday, Minneapolis Officer Derek Chauvin, 44, was charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. He also was accused of ignoring another officer who expressed concerns about Floyd as he lay handcuffed on the ground, pleading that he could not breathe while Chauvin pressed his knee into his neck.

Chauvin, who was fired along with three other officers who were at the scene, faces more than 12 years in prison if convicted of murder.

This is a developing story. Check back for more details.

This story was originally published May 30, 2020 at 1:11 PM.