Emmanuel United Church of Christ
May 29, 2020
Aftershocks over the death of George Floyd, a handcuffed black man who pleaded for air as a white police officer kneeled on his neck in Minneapolis, have traveled to Central Florida
By Kathy Leigh Berkowitz - kberkowitz@theledger.com
HAINES CITY — Aftershocks over the death of George Floyd, a handcuffed black man who pleaded for air as a white police officer kneeled on his neck in Minneapolis, have traveled to Central Florida.
Floyd attended South Florida State College in Avon Park from 1993-1995 where he played basketball, according to the Rev. George Miller of the Emmanuel United Church of Christ in Sebring.
On the church's Facebook page, Miller posted a “Non-Violent Peaceful Sign of Solidarity for the Minneapolis community” event to be held Saturday.
“Our community is wounded right now,” Miller wrote. “Our nation is wounded. Our black and brown sisters and brothers are understandably upset.”
The event takes place at 11 a.m. in the church parking lot at 3115 Hope Street in Sebring. Participants are asked to wear masks and wear the color blue as a sign of peace and hope.
At 11:15, attendees will be invited to lay down and “show their neck” for five minutes as a peaceful sign of solidarity, Miller said.
Floyd died while in custody of the Minneapolis Police Department on May 25. A video that circulated across all major news outlets shows an officer with his knee on Floyd's neck.
That former officer, Derek Chauvin, was taken into custody by state authorities Friday, according to Minneapolis Public Safety Commissioner John Harrington...
To view full story: https://www.theledger.com/story/news/crime/2020/05/29/aftershocks-of-george-floyds-death-hit-central-florida/41967119/