By DCist contributor Alex Edelman

After a weekend full of rallies, protests, and demonstrations against police brutality, a crowd of several hundred came together for a prayer vigil at the African American Civil War Memorial on Sunday evening.

“We have grown restless with the countless hashtags that morbidly capture the pain and anguish of our brothers and sisters,” the National Black United Front wrote about the event, which they called Beyond the Hashtag. “Our people deserve consistent, unyielding actions to not only seek justice, but to break down the barriers of hatred, racism, and prejudice that influence these crimes against humanity.”

Speakers from 15 African American organizations expressed their condolences to the families of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile, and called for action. After the vigil concluded, protesters marched down U Street, turning south on 7th Street and taking over parts of Chinatown before proceeding to the White House.

Metro Transit Police and the Metropolitan Police Department blocked traffic so that protesters could demonstrate. Both the vigil and the march were peaceful.

Filed Under: alton sterling, beyond the hashtag, black lives matter, nbuf, philando castile, protest,