Last night, thousands of people attended a Black Lives Matter protest in Franklin Park, Jamaica Plain, and more demonstrations are planned for the city today.
The peaceful Franklin Park demonstration was in response to last week’s death of George Floyd along with other Black people who have been killed by the police. Today, many volunteers had returned to Franklin Park to help clean up and support the community.
The rally kicked off with a “die-in” – an act of solidarity where protesters knelt for 8 minutes and 46 seconds, which was the time that a white police officer pressed his knee onto George Floyd’s neck, ultimately leading to his death. Afterward, the protesters walked through the city of Boston and assembled in front of the Statehouse.
While the Jamaica Plain demonstration was peaceful, last night, police had to use pepper spray and tear gas during a Brockton demonstration. The demonstration turned violent when protestors began throwing objects at police officers.
Yesterday, the Boston Police tweeted “Like the large majority of today’s protestors, the men and women of the Boston Police Department are also praying for peace. As protestors continue to march through the streets of our city, we remind everyone to remain respectful, responsible, and committed to safety in our city.”
Today, a vigil will be organized at 3:30 p.m. EST on the Boston Common. Additionally, the Black Lives Matter movement is also planning a march in Framingham at 1 p.m.
