Columbus protesters organize back-to-back marches against police brutality Saturday
Two Columbus protests on Saturday drew a combined total of nearly 300 participants, many of whom were still outraged at the death of George Floyd and police brutality in the United States.
The first protest, titled “Sick and Tired of Being Sick and Tired” 8:46, took place early Saturday. Hosted by the National Pan-Hellenic Council, a collection of the historically African-American fraternities and sororities, participants marched from Fourth Street Missionary Baptist Church to the steps of the Government Center.
More than 75 people showed up to the rally, which included speeches from local leaders and officials like Columbus Mayor Skip Henderson and Representative Sanford Bishop, from Georgia’s Second Congressional District.
“We can do better. We have to do better,” Henderson said to the group gathered.
Henderson added that while he won’t be mayor of Columbus forever, as long as he’s still elected he will continue to hear the voices of residents and listen to their concerns.
Rounding out the rest of the speakers, songs and prayers was an eight minute and 46 second-long period of silence, the amount of time a Minneapolis police officer held his knee on Floyd’s neck. During that period, a protester read out Floyd’s last words.
As the the moment of silence began, Norman Hardman dropped to the ground and stayed there the entire time, mimicking the way Floyd was pinned.
Afterwards, Hardman said he was trying to put himself in Floyd’s shoes.
“I wanted to feel a portion of what he felt,” Hardman said. “If he could’ve laid on that ground with four men around him, policing him, I could’ve done the same thing. It was just a moment for me to connect with my brother George Floyd.“
Shortly after that march and rally concluded, many participants traveled up the road to another rally organized by local group, “My Black Has a Purpose.” This rally began near the Popeyes on Wynnton Road and ended at the Citizen Services Center on 3111 Macon Road.
More than 150 people marched down Wynnton and Macon Roads chanting Floyd’s name and also the names of Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, Sandra Bland and other black individuals believed to be killed unjustly. Local businesses and families along the stretch of road, including Chick-fil-A workers, offered marchers cold bottles of water and face masks.
Once the group arrived at the Citizen Services Center, a program featuring some of the same leaders from the morning and new speakers shared their messages.
Among the returning faces was Rep. Bishop who called for justice in Floyd’s case, as well as other cases in the United States.
“We cannot let today just be a moment for justice. Today we need a movement for justice. Justice. Justice. Justice,” Bishop said.
Both rally organizers stressed keeping the protests peaceful, and the majority of both events stayed true to that request. Columbus Police Chief Ricky Boren was met with some opposition as he spoke, resulting in many event goers dropping to a knee. It was the only contentious moment of the morning.
Another rally named, A March for Justice, is planned for June 13 at 12:30 p.m., according to the event page on Facebook.
This story was originally published June 6, 2020 at 3:16 PM.