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Thousands of people have gathered to commemorate the historic 1963 Civil Rights March in Washington, channeling those who participated at the time to demonstrate police brutality against black Americans.
At the rally, dozens of people spoke passionately about ongoing violence against black citizens in the U.S. at the hands of white people or law enforcement, most recently highlighted by the shooting of Jacob blake in Wisconsin.
Blake’s father, also named Jacob Blake, was one of those who addressed the crowd on Friday, telling attendees that his own father was at the original March on Washington.
“I really didn’t want to see you all here today for these reasons,” he said, adding, “But I have a duty.”
Thousands of people attended the protest ‘March of commitment: take your knees off your neck’
Jacob Blake Sr speaks at the Lincoln Memorial
The Rev. Al Sharpton, Martin Luther King III, and relatives of other victims who were killed or injured by police violence also spoke at the event.
It was nicknamed the March of Engagement: Take the knee off our neck.
The meeting took place 57 years after Martin Luther King Jr’s “I have a dream” speech at the same venue and five days after Mr. Blake, 29, was repeatedly shot by police officers in the city of Kenosha. , in front of their children.
Mr. Blake survived the attack, but was paralyzed from the waist down. according to his family.
His shooting sparked mass protests, and people demanded justice for the lives of blacks.
Reverend Al Sharpton spoke passionately at the march and called for a change.
Two people were left dead during the demonstrations in Kenosha after a young white man, who was caught on mobile phone video, opened fire in the middle of the street with a semi-automatic rifle.
Kyle Rittenhouse, 17, has been charged with murder.
Jacob Blake, who was shot in Wisconsin, remains in hospital
The Reverend Sharpton, whose civil rights organization National Action Network planned the event, invited the family of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Rayshard Brooks, Ahmaud Arbery, Trayvon Martin, Eric Garnerand Mr. Blake to speak on Friday.
Mr. Floyd, Ms. Taylor, Mr. Brooks, and Mr. Garner were killed by US police officers, while Mr. Arbery and Mr. Martin were killed by white men who pursued them with guns. fire.
Protesters who participated in the rally formed queues that spread through several streets as organizers insisted on taking temperatures as part of coronavirus restrictions.
They were seen wearing masks and also sitting on socially distant chairs, which had been placed.
Protesters sit in chairs arranged for social distancing at the Lincoln Memorial
Speaking at the rally, Mr. King III said: “Today we commemorate the march for jobs and freedom in 1963, where my father declared his dream.
“But we must never forget the American nightmare of racist violence exemplified when Emmett Till was assassinated that day in 1955, and the criminal justice system failed to convict his killers.
“Sixty-five years later, we still fight for justice. Demilitarize the police, dismantle mass incarceration – and declare, and with whatever determination we can, that black lives matter. “
Martin Luther King III, eldest son of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., speaks at the Engagement March
Later, Reverend Sharpton told the crowd during his passionate speech: “You guys act like it’s not a problem to shoot us in the back. You act like it’s not a problem to hold us down while we scream ‘I can’t breathe.” ’11 times.
“You act like it’s no problem holding a man down until you squeeze the life out of him.
“It’s time for a new conversation.”
He added: “Some say to me: ‘Reverend Al, should you denounce those who get violent, those who loot?’ All the families have denounced the looting, what we have not heard is that you denounce shooting.
“We will speak out against looting, but when will you speak out against the wrong police shooting?”
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Rev Sharpton has called on those in other states to march to the offices of their US senators and demand their support for federal policing reforms.
In June, the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives passed the George Floyd Police Justice Act, which would prohibit police use of strangulation maneuvers and end qualified immunity for officers, among other reforms.
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