A peaceful protest against police brutality is planned for this Saturday in front of Greenwood City Hall.
The demonstration is in response to the recent death of George Floyd, a 46-year-old unarmed African American man, who was pinned to the ground during an arrest in Minneapolis. Four former police officers have been charged.
The protest will start at 12:30 p.m., and masks will be required.
“We are planning for a simple peaceful demonstration,” said organizer Robert Wilson. “I will speak, we will allow some people from the crowd to speak and then we’ll have a nine-minute moment of silence to show our solidarity with the national protest.”
Prosecutors have said that Floyd was pinned for eight minutes and 46 seconds before he died.
The event flier has been posted on different social media outlets including those related to Mississippi Marching Forward, a group that promotes protests throughout the state, and Black Lives Matter Greenwood, MS.
Demonstrators are encouraged to bring signs and line the sidewalks, but because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, Wilson acknowledges the need for extra safety precautions.
“We are telling people to make sure they wear their masks, but we also are aware that there are communities of color … that don’t really have access to different things as far as getting proper (personal protective equipment),” he said.
Wilson hopes to be able to provide equipment to keep protesters safe.
“We are in the process of acquiring masks that we’d be able to give out to people that show up and don’t have a mask,” he said. “That way we aren’t turning away anyone who doesn’t have a face mask on.”
Wilson is also in the process of getting legal aid representatives at the event to help with any questions the public may have.
“No American should ever have to be fearful of being detained by the police,” Greenwood Mayor Carolyn McAd-ams said in a statement as posted on the BLM Greenwood, MS Facebook page. “Police brutality is never acceptable, nor should it be tolerated.”
Many other demonstrations have been held throughout the country, some of which have turned violent.
Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves has shared his concerns about these rallies.
“You have a right to protest. It is among the most sacred rights in this country. I applaud anyone who uses that right, and I will defend your right to do so,” Reeves said Monday. “I do not believe there will be violence here. … Those people protesting want a voice, not violence.”
• Contact Adam Bakst at 581-7233 or abakst@gwcommonwealth.com.
The original version of this article misreported the age of George Floyd.
