CLEARWATER, Fla. — About a hundred protesters turned out for a peaceful demonstration Sunday in Clearwater's Coachman Park, calling for social justice and police reform.

The crowd was considerably smaller than other protests held in the Bay area in the weeks since the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. The event also differed in that the group did not march, but rather held a sit-in at the park to showcase their message and their call for change.

Participants listened to speakers on stage at the park, and also observed an eight-minute-and-46-second moment of silence in honor of Floyd. Then, at sunset, the event turned into a candlelight vigil for all those who have died at the hands of police officers.

Image: Matt Infante/Spectrum Bay News 9

Clearwater’s Mayor, Frank HIbbard, and Police Chief Dan Slaughter attended the event. Hibbard at one point asked the crowd not to judge every police officer by the same standard and said the officers in his city are working to do things right and continue the conversation.

Organizers said this protest was important because people were actually able to talk to each other and have an open dialogue.

"In order for things to change, it’s going to take us having those conversations," said community activist Javante Scott. "And so today, that’s what I was able to do, engage in that conversation."