What's next after the protests? Community leaders weigh in

But now, days later, community leaders are discussing how to create permanent and positive change.

"You often hear this statement of trying to move from a moment to a movement," said Dr. Henry McKoy, an instructor at NC Central University. "And we've seen in the past where you see an uprising and things kind of go back to normal, but we understand that normal for a lot of folks is just not good."

Dr. McKoy has followed the local protests and other civil rights movements in history.

He says the next step to avoid returning to the old normal now lies in advocates investing in minority communities.

"I think economics serves as a strong foundation of what has to happen," he explained. "You can't look at what's happening with George Floyd and others without understanding the economic underpinnings of these protests."

In addition to demanding fairness from government officials, McKoy says local supporters must push leaders to allocate funding to black communities. This will create more jobs and businesses to help those demographics thrive in future.

"This is a long path and you have to be willing to make that long investment," McKoy said.

And if communities step with the same unity in this next phase of reform, McKoy says the movements will see positive change in how people are treated.