As a curfew took effect Sunday night in Onondaga County, a recorded message echoed from the hood of a police cruiser parked near the Public Safety Building in Syracuse.
"Your safety and security is important. Remember, there is a curfew from 8 p.m. in the evening to 7 a.m. in the morning," the message stated.
It was prompted by a tense Saturday night in the city. What began as peaceful protests Saturday afternoon, took a turn after dark. Police were forced to use tear gas and rubber bullets to break up the crowd.
The speaker was aimed toward a line of people just down the block. On the heels of peaceful protests throughout the day, questions about what should happen next divided a small group that had ignored the curfew.
"We're begging them to go home," said Syracuse resident Karen Loftin. "That's something that needs to be talked about, that these young people are standing so firmly on their beliefs that they are ready to die."
There would be no clash, though groups of police were sprinkled throughout the area just in case. Instead, an open dialogue persisted with protestors debating about the best path forward. Many wanted to go home, gather more supporters and start over Monday morning.
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"Us leaving is giving them what they want. They want us to be scared. No," argued Kayla Johnson. "We wanted to push it in their brains that we won't give up at this point. It's been too many homicides here in Syracuse, New York, outside of Syracuse. We want them to know we will not give up this time. We won't."
By 10 p.m., it appeared the push to go home and regroup during daylight had prevailed. While Johnson worries her message will be lost, Karen Loftin carries hope into a new day.
"I have faith because I am seeing so many white people out here," she said with a smile. "If they're going to stand, I'm going to stand."
County officials lifted the curfew Monday afternoon.