Newark Residents Will Protest ‘Police Killing Of George Floyd’

NEWARK, NJ — A rally and march to protest the “police killing of George Floyd” is set to take place in Newark on Saturday, May 30, activists say.

The People’s Organization for Progress (POP) said its members will gather at 12:45 p.m. at the Lincoln Monument, 12 Springfield Avenue. The protest will begin at 1 p.m.

Organizers are asking people to follow social distancing guidelines, and wear a face mask and gloves. Masks will be available at the protest for those who need them.

“It is important to understand that this is not a protest against social distancing guidelines, which the organization will be observing,” the POP emphasized. “This is a protest against police brutality and state murder of black people. The organization also protests the racist brutality and abuse against all oppressed communities, as socially engineered disparate inequities continue to exist in this country.”

Floyd, 46, who is black, was killed in Minneapolis police custody after an officer, Derek Chauvin, who is white, placed his knee on the handcuffed man’s neck for several minutes. Video footage of his death shows Floyd pleading that he couldn’t breathe, as bystanders try to point out the danger to the officers on the scene.

Authorities say Floyd was detained because he matched the description of someone who tried to pay with a counterfeit bill at a convenience store.

Floyd moved to Minneapolis from his native Houston several years ago in hopes of finding work and starting a new life. He leaves behind two daughters, ages 6 and 22.

Chauvin and the other three police officers at the scene have been fired. The FBI and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension have been called in to investigate.

On Friday, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension arrested Chauvin, although the charges weren't immediately clear. The three other officers have not been arrested, according to MinnPost reporter Peter Callaghan.

• See related article: George Floyd Death: Former Cop Derek Chauvin Arrested
• See related article: Police Across America Say George Floyd Death Is 'Indefensible'
• See related article: George Floyd Death: Investigators Ask For Patience In Probe

Floyd’s death has since sparked national outrage and inspired many people, including the POP’s members, to demand a massive overhaul of policing in the United States.

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