KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – Tuesday marked one year since the death of George Floyd, and a group of Kalamazoo activists and community groups held a memorial ceremony downtown Tuesday evening.
Floyd’s death occurred in late May 2020, when former police officer Derek Chauvin and three other officers attempted to arrest Floyd for allegedly trying to pass a fake bill.
Video footage showed that Chauvin had knelt down on Floyd’s neck for about nine minutes, during which Floyd repeatedly said he couldn’t breathe.
The response resulted in protests and unrest across the nation, including demonstrations in Kalamazoo.
Last month, Chauvin was found guilty on charges of second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. The penalty can result in up to forty years in prison for the second-degree count, and he will be sentenced next month.
The event that took place Tuesday, “Open Eyes Kalamazoo,” was a collaboration between local activists, the Metropolitan Kalamazoo NCAAP, and others, and was meant to honor Floyd and others who have died as a result of police violence.
Before the ceremony began, yellow crosses were distributed to those in attendance, each representing a life lost to police violence since the start of this year – 181, according to organizer and activist Quinton Bryant.
“It might not look like much, but each of these 181 crosses represents a life that ended that shouldn’t have ended to police,” Bryant said. “These crosses are yellow because they signify hope. That’s why we’re here today, hoping for a better tomorrow, hoping to end police brutality.”
At six p.m. sharp, participants held up the crosses and observed a nine-minute moment of silence, during which a bell chimed for each minute past. After the silent period, Bryant spoke again.
“Nine minutes and 29 seconds, it was hard just standing here,” Bryant said. “Imagine how George Floyd felt in those nine minutes and 29 seconds, the things that were going through his head.”
The ceremony then closed with a prayer, and activists thanked those who attended.
Further Viewing –
- The City of Kalamazoo had hosted a livestream of the event, but it was interrupted with apparent technical difficulties. A recording of the event can be viewed through WOOD TV at this link.
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