“When you are silent you are shutting down the conversation, and we need to speak up.”
Those were the sentiments of one of the speakers at the Black Lives Matter Rally at the Confederation Building in St. John’s this afternoon.
Thousands of people gathered for the demonstration, spurred by the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis last month.
The RNC was consulted ahead of the demonstration to ensure adequate COVID-19 prevention measures were in place.
The thunderous chants come to a comeplete stop, fists in the air, as a minute of silence takes place. @VOCMNEWS pic.twitter.com/2DB5dJFWZ0
— Tyler Dunne (@teedunne) June 6, 2020
Precious Familusi is with Black Lives Matter NL.
Familusi says the event is about highlighting anti-black racism in the province and discussing a way forward.
He says it’s about discussing what racism looks like in Newfoundland and creating conversations based off of that. He notes there is a lot of pain being felt in the black community because of racism.
Protestors now chanting “Black Lives Matter.”
Crowds have grown to what looks to be thousands. @VOCMNEWS pic.twitter.com/x6ZjS3EzPR— Tyler Dunne (@teedunne) June 6, 2020
Protesters take a knee for eight minutes at the #BlackLivesMatter protest at Confederation Hill.@VOCMNEWS pic.twitter.com/InGLdyZKp1
— Jeff Smyth (@JeffSmythVOCM) June 6, 2020
