Black Lives Matter Protests in Orlando

The murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Tony McDade at the hands of police ignited an international response, and Orlando showed up. And continued to show up. And showed up even in the rain, in the defense of Black lives. Orlando protesters endured chemical weapons, military tactics, smackdowns and arrests at the hands of the Orlando Police Department and Orange County Sheriff's Department. Yet still, thousands marched, and shut down the streets consistently – they even shut down the 408! Most recently, "Our Budget Our Block" organizers staged five back-to-back protests demanding the Orange County Commission reject a $15 million proposed increase to the Sheriff's budget next year. In the words of the late John Lewis, this was "good trouble, necessary trouble."

Local Color

1st: Winter Park Scenic Boat Tour scenicboattours.com

2nd: Baldwin Park

3rd: Sanford Brewing Company sanfordbrewing.com

1st: The Center thecenterorlando.org

2nd: Zebra Coalition zebrayouth.org

3rd: Spay the Strays spaythestrays.rescuegroups.org

1st: Savannah Boan facebook.com/thesavannahboan

2nd: Johnny Magic facebook.com/johnnymagicfan

3rd: Jim Colbert facebook.com/thejimcolbertshow

1st: Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida, feedhopenow.org

2nd: Give Kids the World Village gktw.org

3rd: Pet Alliance of Greater Orlando petallianceorlando.org

1st: State Rep. Anna Eskamani

2nd: Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings

3rd: Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer

1st: 'A Mediocre Time With Tom & Dan' tomanddan.com

2nd: "To the Top With Carlos Navarro," iamcarlosnavarro.com

3rd: "Russ & Bo 2.0" facebook.com/russandbo2.0

1st: State Rep. Anna Eskamani

2nd: Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer

3rd: U.S. Rep. Val Demings

1st: Orlando Weekly orlandoweekly.com

2nd: Bungalower bungalower.com

3rd: Orlando Sentinel orlandosentinel.com