I learned about a protest to the murder of George Floyd today in my town. I quickly made a sign (Black Lives Matter) and walked over around 1:55 not really knowing any more details.
Lots of folks were there in front of City Hall. Some were standing on the front steps with signs. Akilé Cainon, a local activist and a past candidate for City Council, was on the front steps with a megaphone alternating between protest chants and speeches.
More and more people trickled in. Ultimately we ended up blocking the street and spilling to the other side of the road. It was inspiring to see so many people there. Sometimes protests
Other speakers came and spoke of the atrocities against Native people, immigrants, black people. Speakers shared prayers and poems.
Then we marched. From our City Hall to the Police station about 8 blocks away. Down the center of a main artery of town (1st Ave N).
It was hot. Something like 86 degrees today with no shade. But we chanted and marched.
We arrived at the police station and sat down in the middle of 1st Ave N. We sat on the hard ground in silence for 9 minutes: the amount of time George Floyd had a boot on his neck while he lay on the hard ground. The boot that ultimately killed him as he begged for his life.
Nine minutes is a long time to sit in silence. Better than the alternative though. Just sayin’.
After the sit in, there were more speakers. And more chanting. We continued to occupy space in the middle of 1st Ave N. I left close to 4:00, because I was hot and tired. Not sure how long it lasted, or maybe folks are still going.
I’m so sad and angry about this. I’m glad I went to this protest/march, because it was a little big of an outlet for that energy. But in the forefront of my mind are my black students. They are on summer vacation now. I fear for them. And my heart goes out to them because I know they have to face systemic racism every day. I don’t want one of them to be next. Because they could be. Any of them, and any black person I know.
I’m not black. I can’t fully understand the pain and trauma black folks are feeling about all of the murders (so many murders – 600+ years of slavery and murder). All I can say is when it comes down to it, I will keep educating myself and make every effort to be there, side-by-side with my black siblings. I want to help build a better world.