'We took DeKalb today': protestors peaceful during march in streets Sunday. Then looting began.

DeKALB - A Black Lives Matter rally to protest police killings and ongoing violence inflicted upon people while under the custody of law enforcement seemed to end 6 p.m. Sunday night, three hours into demonstrations, chanting and marching from the DeKalb Police Department and into the streets.

Lincoln Highway in DeKalb was shut down from the DeKalb police station to Annie Glidden as a second straight day of protests in response to the killing of George Floyd while in the custody of a Minneapolis police officer earlier this week.

"I'm so proud that this was peaceful and we made our point," said Trin E., 20, a Northern Illinois University junior who didn't want to use her full name. "We took DeKalb today."

Not an hour later, several men took a bat and rocks to Thirsty's Liquor on Hillcrest and Annie Glidden Road, and the looting started.

There were no clear connections between the peaceful protestors Sunday and those who looted several businesses in DeKalb, including Thirsty's, the 7-Eleven on the corner of Hillcrest and Annie Glidden, Huskies Discount Tobacco, Huskies Liquor and Discount Furniture. The group also made verbal threats to loot Walmart and Target, though by the time they arrived, the stores had already closed and were surrounded by police from Sycamore, DeKalb, and DeKalb County Sheriff's Office.

While people were looting the Hillcrest strip mall Sunday, DeKalb Pastor Joe Mitchell, of New Hope Missionary Baptist Church, arrived and used a megaphone from a DeKalb police car as he begged looters to go home.

"I agree with you no justice no peace, but this is not the way. Somebody's going to get hurt, somebody's going to die. Please, show love for one another, go home."

The peaceful demonstration hours earlier was organized by Tiana McAllister, 18, of Kirkland. Many wore masks at the beginning of the rally, though didn't keep them on for long.

"I see that around the whole U.S. now the riots are getting crazy," McAllister said. "So I was trying to think of my way that I can do it to make it so its peaceful but actually make a statement without burning down buildings."

The peaceful protest Sunday did not appear to be connected to the looting that followed.

Throughout the hours long demonstration - which began at Memorial Park at the corner of First Street and Lincoln Highway in DeKalb, then included a march down Lincoln Highway to the police station. During the march, DeKalb police officers provided security for the protestors, and blocked off the street from traffic so marchers could continue safely.

Chants included, "Black lives matter," "No justice, no peace," "What do we want? Justice. When do we want it? Now."

While at Memorial Park, participants joined together for a nine-minute kneel, to commemorate the death of George Floyd, which occurred after Chauvin was seen in video kneeling on Floyd's neck for that period of time.

Emily Marbutt, 15, marched with Rukisha Crawford, DeKalb County Board member who's running for DeKalb County Circuit Clerk.

"I think it's really good that the young people are out," Marbutt said.

Standing outside the police department, NIU student Aaron Briggs, 25, Sam Callahan, 26 of Waukegan, joined the chanting and said they hoped the call for police reform wouldn't end Sunday.

"We need the support of other people, but we also need ourselves to stand forward, so that's why we come out," Callahan said. "So this isn't the end, this is the beginning of something that's going to be continued. It can't just be one time."

"I go to NIU and it's very obvious to see who's here and who isn't," Briggs said. "Honestly, it's very hot, and the pandemic is very serious. Their safety is more improtant, so I can understand why some people aren't. But whoever's able-bodied, I feel like should be here."

The protest became tense for several moments outside of the DeKalb Police Station, 700 W. Lincoln Highway, Sunday as some moved toward the police station screaming and throwing bottles. "Can we get the white ones here, too?" others said, after they asked the two DeKalb police officers, both black, to stand with them.

The officers walked over to stand with the crowd, but did not speak.

Elonte McDowell, a black man who was, as a police forensic doctor described, choked by DeKalb Police Sgt. Jeffrey Weese in August also joined the protest. The arrest gained national attention as McDowell yelled "I can't breathe" in the arrest caught on video.

After an investigation including a DeKalb county grand jury which declined to press criminal charges against Weese. In February, after an internal investigation by the DeKalb police department, Weese was placed on unpaid suspension for 30 days, ordered to undergo cultural competency training, and prohibited from being promoted for a year.

Some chanted, "Fire Weese," outside the police department.

Several other participants called for peaceful protests instead of violence outside of the police department, shouting "you're putting black and brown bodies at risk."

Instead, the demonstration moved to the streets, with protestors quickly overtaking all four lanes of Lincoln Highway as they marched north to Annie Glidden Road. Protesters laid down in the street at the intersection of Lincoln Highway and Annie Glidden during the largely peaceful march.

As they marched, DeKalb police officers blocked the roads behind and in front of them to keep the traffic away.

The group of protesters marched to the intersection of Lucinda Ave. and Annie Glidden, and at 6 p.m., traffic re-opened on both Lincoln Highway and Annie Glidden Road.

The march Sunday was part of nationwide demonstrations happening in cities as a response to the police-involved killings of Floyd and Breonna Taylor, as well as the killing of Ahmaud Arbery.

Derek Chauvin, a white ex-Minneapolis police officer was arrested and charged with murder Friday, five days after video showed him kneeling on Floyd's neck for eight minutes while Floyd, a black man, could be heard pleading multiple times that he could not breathe.

Sunday's protest started at 3 p.m. with a nine-minute kneel for Floyd in Memorial Park, followed by a march to the police station.