A rally was held at the intersection of Highway 305 and Winslow Way Sunday to protest police violence in the wake of George Floyd’s death in Minneapolis days before, one of many such gatherings and demonstrations around the country, some of which have descended into violence and vandalism.
“Seattle is on its second day of curfew at 5 p.m. and people on Bainbridge Island are also protesting the death,” said Holly Brewer of Indivisible Bainbridge Island, referring to Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan’s imposing a curfew on the city in light of vandalism and looting during protests there.
According to Brewer, the groups that organized the rally included the city’s Racial Equity Task Force, Indivisible Bainbridge Island and North Kitsap Indivisible.
“James Friday, the president of the Race Equity Task Force, lead the rally with a constant flow of chants repeated or answered by those also at the rally,” Brewer said.
People reportedly chanted, ”I can’t breathe,” “How many more?” “Who will save me?” and ”This could be your daughter, your son, your nephew, your grandson.”
“There were between 40 and 70 participants as people came and went,” Brewer said. “There were three dogs joining in to be present and also be heard.”
Floyd, a black man, died on May 25 while being arrested after a white police officer kept his knee on Floyd’s neck for more than eight minutes while he laid handcuffed, prone on a city street. The arrest was made after Floyd was accused of using a counterfeit $20 bill at a deli.
Demonstrations and protests began in the Minneapolis–Saint Paul area the next day and eventually developed in over 100 cities throughout all 50 states and internationally.