Durham, NC – Some essential workers in Durham are painting “Black Lives Matter” in large red letters at the intersection of Morgan St. and Rigsbee Ave. in Durham.
These workers are part of a national strike in memory of George Floyd and other black lives killed by police officers.
The national strike, which started at noon, encouraged workers to leave their jobs for eight minutes, the amount of time prosecutors say a white police officer held his knee to Floyd’s neck.
At the protest, a kneeling that lasted that period of time took place in solidarity with the movement.
“I think it was the longest eight minutes and 46 seconds I’ve ever had,” said ally Mary Grace. “And I started crying.”
The group met at McDonald’s at 102 West Morgan St.
All fast food workers, healthcare workers, those in the service industry, community leaders and racial justice activists are expected to participate.
Similar strikes are planned in at least 25 other major cities, including Boston, Chicago, Denver, Detroit, Houston, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Memphis, Miami, New York, Orlando, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, San Francisco, Seattle, St. Louis and others.
The nationwide protests are organized by Fight for $ 15 and a Union, a group that represents workers’ rights and lobbies to raise the minimum wage.
“I have been in this city for 61 years and have seen a lot of growth,” a woman known as ‘Mama Cookie’ told many. “But it does not benefit black communities or brown communities. It is not fair. They are starving us. They are trying to get us out of everything and we no longer have it.”
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