PHOENIX (3TV/CBS5) -- Phoenix Police Chief Jeri Williams joined protesters in downtown Phoenix Friday as demonstrators gathered for a 9th night in a row.

Hours before Gov. Doug Ducey's 8 p.m. curfew was set to go into effect, crowds of peaceful protesters were seen gathering around Phoenix City Hall. The crowd swelled to several thousand, but when the curfew began, crowds were already dispersing. Shortly after 8, the streets of Phoenix were nearly empty.

Earlier, Police Chief Jeri Williams joined the rally and spoke to the crowd. "We hear you," she said. "We can't do this alone. We've got to do this together. If walking out in 106-degree weather with y'all means we're going to work together, we're going to work together."