Protests across U.S. mostly peaceful, Romney, civil rights icon Congressman Lewis march in D.C.

Protests over the weekend following George Floyd’s death were largely calm, as demonstrators marched in U.S. cities large and small to call for an end to police brutality toward black Americans and reforms to police departments across America.

Floyd’s death May 25 after a Minneapolis police officer kneeled on his neck during an arrest sparked more than a week of nationwide protests, which at their height were overshadowed by violence, arson and looting. 

However, this weekend’s protests – in such major cities as Los Angeles, New York and Washington, D.C. – brought thousands of people to the streets largely to call for such reforms as diverting money from police budgets to more community-oriented programs and to completely defund police agencies. 

Among those who marched in Washington were civil rights icon Georgia Democratic Rep. John Lewis and Utah Sen. Mitt Romney, the 2012 GOP presidential nominee. 

The protests were calmer this weekend, following an apparent attempt by officials and police departments to allow demonstrators to move more freely – lifting curfews and reportedly having the National Guard in Washington not carry weapons.

More than 10,000 people have been arrested around the country since protests began, according to reports tracked by The Associated Press. 

In New York this weekend, most police for the first time since the protests started May 26 did not wear helmets and other tactical gear. 

However, in Seattle police used flash-bang devices and pepper spray to disperse protesters after rocks, bottles and explosives were thrown at officers Saturday night.

On Sunday night, a man reportedly drove a car at protesters, hit a barricade then exited the vehicle brandishing a pistol, authorities said. The male drive was shot by police and taken to a hospital in stable condition, the wire service also reports.