Protests continued across Boston and in surrounding communities on Thursday as people gathered for silent standouts and demanded justice in the wake of the police killing of a black man in Minneapolis.
“It’s a reawakening,” Monica Bun, 27, said at a vigil with thousands of people in Jamaica Plain Thursday afternoon. “More and more people are beginning to see what’s going on, and are willing to go through with the possibility of getting sick (with coronavirus) for this important movement right now.”
George Floyd was killed last week when a white police officer kneeled on his neck for 8 minutes and 46 seconds. Floyd said, “I can’t breathe,” as the officer kept applying pressure.
Floyd’s death has triggered protests across the country to denounce police killings, and stand against racial injustice and discrimination. There have been several protests throughout the week in Boston and across Massachusetts.
On Thursday, there were protests in Jamaica Plain, Roslindale, Newton, Woburn and Wilmington.
In Jamaica Plain, thousands of people came together for a vigil at the intersection of Centre and South streets, and silently stood in support of the Black Lives Matter movement for 30 minutes.
-
BOSTON, MA: June 4, 2020: Nurses at Brigham and Women's Hospital gather and take a knee outside the hospital for 8 minutes and 46 seconds in honor of George Floyd in Boston, Massachusetts. (Staff photo by Nicolaus Czarnecki/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald)
-
BOSTON, MA: June 4, 2020: Junior Nash, of Cambridge, raises a fist as he holds up a sign and joins hundreds take part in a peaceful vigil in support of Black Lives Matter in Jamaica Plain in Boston, Massachusetts. (Staff photo by Nicolaus Czarnecki/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald)
-
BOSTON, MA: June 4, 2020: Hundreds take part in a peaceful vigil in support of Black Lives Matter in Jamaica Plain in Boston, Massachusetts. (Staff photo by Nicolaus Czarnecki/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald)
-
-
BOSTON, MA: June 4, 2020: Hundreds take part in a peaceful vigil in support of Black Lives Matter in Jamaica Plain in Boston, Massachusetts. (Staff photo by Nicolaus Czarnecki/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald)
-
BOSTON, MA: June 4, 2020: Hundreds take part in a peaceful vigil in support of Black Lives Matter in Jamaica Plain in Boston, Massachusetts. (Staff photo by Nicolaus Czarnecki/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald)
-
BOSTON, MA: June 4, 2020: Hundreds take part in a peaceful vigil in support of Black Lives Matter in Jamaica Plain in Boston, Massachusetts. (Staff photo by Nicolaus Czarnecki/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald)
-
-
BOSTON, MA: June 4, 2020: Ife Franklin, center, leads a chant as hundreds take part in a peaceful vigil in support of Black Lives Matter in Jamaica Plain in Boston, Massachusetts. (Staff photo by Nicolaus Czarnecki/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald)
-
BOSTON, MA: June 4, 2020: Hundreds take part in a peaceful vigil in support of Black Lives Matter in Jamaica Plain in Boston, Massachusetts. (Staff photo by Nicolaus Czarnecki/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald)
-
BOSTON, MA: June 4, 2020: Ife Franklin, center, leads a chant as hundreds take part in a peaceful vigil in support of Black Lives Matter in Jamaica Plain in Boston, Massachusetts. (Staff photo by Nicolaus Czarnecki/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald)
-
-
BOSTON, MA: June 4, 2020: Hundreds take part in a peaceful vigil in support of Black Lives Matter in Jamaica Plain in Boston, Massachusetts. (Staff photo by Nicolaus Czarnecki/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald)
-
BOSTON, MA: June 4, 2020: Hundreds take part in a peaceful vigil in support of Black Lives Matter in Jamaica Plain in Boston, Massachusetts. (Staff photo by Nicolaus Czarnecki/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald)
-
BOSTON, MA: June 4, 2020: Hundreds take part in a peaceful vigil in support of Black Lives Matter in Jamaica Plain in Boston, Massachusetts. (Staff photo by Nicolaus Czarnecki/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald)
-
-
BOSTON, MA: June 4, 2020: Ife Franklin, right, leads a chant as hundreds take part in a peaceful vigil in support of Black Lives Matter in Jamaica Plain in Boston, Massachusetts. (Staff photo by Nicolaus Czarnecki/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald)
-
BOSTON, MA: June 4, 2020: Hundreds take part in a peaceful vigil in support of Black Lives Matter in Jamaica Plain in Boston, Massachusetts. (Staff photo by Nicolaus Czarnecki/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald)
-
BOSTON, MA: June 4, 2020: Hundreds take part in a peaceful vigil in support of Black Lives Matter in Jamaica Plain in Boston, Massachusetts. (Staff photo by Nicolaus Czarnecki/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald)
-
-
BOSTON, MA: June 4, 2020: Hundreds take part in a peaceful vigil in support of Black Lives Matter in Jamaica Plain in Boston, Massachusetts. (Staff photo by Nicolaus Czarnecki/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald)
-
BOSTON, MA: June 4, 2020: Hundreds take part in a peaceful vigil in support of Black Lives Matter in Jamaica Plain in Boston, Massachusetts. (Staff photo by Nicolaus Czarnecki/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald)
-
BOSTON, MA: June 4, 2020: Nurses at Brigham and Women's Hospital gather and take a knee outside the hospital for 8 minutes and 46 seconds in honor of George Floyd in Boston, Massachusetts. (Staff photo by Nicolaus Czarnecki/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald)
-
-
BOSTON, MA: June 4, 2020: Nurses at Brigham and Women's Hospital gather and take a knee outside the hospital for 8 minutes and 46 seconds in honor of George Floyd in Boston, Massachusetts. (Staff photo by Nicolaus Czarnecki/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald)
-
BOSTON, MA: June 4, 2020: Nurses at Brigham and Women's Hospital gather and take a knee outside the hospital for 8 minutes and 46 seconds in honor of George Floyd in Boston, Massachusetts. (Staff photo by Nicolaus Czarnecki/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald)
-
BOSTON, MA: June 4, 2020: Nurses at Brigham and Women's Hospital gather and take a knee outside the hospital for 8 minutes and 46 seconds in honor of George Floyd in Boston, Massachusetts. (Staff photo by Nicolaus Czarnecki/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald)
-
-
BOSTON, MA: June 4, 2020: Nurses at Brigham and Women's Hospital gather and take a knee outside the hospital for 8 minutes and 46 seconds in honor of George Floyd in Boston, Massachusetts. (Staff photo by Nicolaus Czarnecki/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald)
“Now we’re at a moment where we are coming together in a way that feels like change can occur,” said Jennifer Cupp, 29. “It’s really inspiring to see all the people turning out.”
People took a knee when the church bells rang, and after launched into chants of “Black lives matter,” “George Floyd,” “No justice no peace” and “Not one more.”
Cars passing by beeped in approval, and the crowd clapped.
They have been holding monthly Black Lives Matter vigils in Jamaica Plain for several years.
Julie Boss, 59, one of the organizers of the monthly vigils, said, “I really think it’s incredible so many people are here, and I hope the passion for this really essential issue in our country continues until it’s no longer needed.”
Boston City Councilor Matt O’Malley said it was “powerful” to see so many neighbors come out to the vigil.
“It’s important to say, ‘Black lives matter,’ it’s important to be here, but it’s important to do the work too, and to think about that in ways that we craft legislation, in ways we address inequality and racism,” he said.
The NAACP on Thursday held a moment of silence on Facebook for 8 minutes and 46 seconds to honor Floyd.
More protests are expected this weekend as momentum builds for the justice movement.
In Brookline, a peaceful protest is planned for Friday at 4 p.m. in Cleveland Circle. Protesters are expected to march up Beacon St. from Cassidy Park to Amory Park.
Mayor Martin Walsh, who participated in the moment of silence for Floyd on Thursday, said of protests this weekend, “Anybody that’s going to come in to protest in town, I’m just asking you to please be peaceful, respectful of your city, and respectful — as the Floyd family said — to the memory of Mr. Floyd.”
from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/3dGkZmk
Post a Comment