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Seattle Mayor Durkan to meet with protesters Wednesday

SEATTLE — On Wednesday, local people who have been protesting the death of George Floyd will meet with Seattle's mayor.

Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan, police Chief Carmen Best and fire Chief Harold Scoggins spoke to a group thousands Tuesday outside Seattle’s Emergency Operations Center at Fifth Avenue and Jackson Street. See video of what they had to say.

When protesters demanded a stop to the use of tear gas, Durkan said she couldn’t keep that promise, but said city officials would review the Police Department’s use of pepper spray and flash bang grenades to break up a crowd of demonstrators Monday night.

Protesters also asked about officers covering badge numbers with mourning bands that honor fallen officers. Durkan said they are looking for a change so badge numbers can be seen.

“There’s times there can’t be gatherings, but this is a time when we have to have gatherings because your voices need to be heard,” Durkan told the crowd Tuesday. “What happened to (George Floyd) has happened for generations. Too many black men have died.”

Durkan made no promise to change the end of Seattle police oversight made by a federal court decree.

KIRO 7 spoke to a woman in the crowd who explained why she was protesting.

“I talked to my mom and she was upset that I was protesting. She feels it was the same fight when she was my age -- or her mom was my age. She thinks it’s normal. It happens. Killings. That’s what they think. I don’t want it to be normal for my generation, and the generation to come," she said.

Police Chief Best also spoke to the crowd, saying she was concerned about objects being thrown at officers.

Durkan’s meeting is expected to happen at 3 p.m.

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