Several hundred people lay in the grass and on the walking path at Point State Park on Sunday for 8 minutes and 46 seconds, the length of time prosecutors said Derek Chauvin, a Minneapolis police officer, kneeled on the neck of George Floyd before he died.
The Sunday demonstration, which included several dozen speakers, marked the ninth day of largely peaceful protests in the Pittsburgh area against racism and police violence.
“I know that the protests are going to die down… what are we going to do after?” Tanisha Long, 30, of Crafton, asked the crowd. Long, who served as a moderator for the demonstration, runs a Black Lives Matter Facebook group for Western Pennsylvania. “At this point, we have to start making change.”
Hundreds of people lie on the ground in silence at Point State Park Sunday for eight minutes and 46 seconds, the amount of time prosecutors say a white Minneapolis police officer had his knee on George Floyd's neck before he died. (Photo by Ryan Loew/PublicSource)
Phoenix White, 20, of Canonsburg, speaks before a large crowd of people gathered at Point State Park Sunday for a demonstration against racism and police violence. (Photo by Ryan Loew/PublicSource)
While praising the recent protests, she also called for increased Black representation in politics and educational spaces and encouraged attendees to vote.
The event ran for about three hours, and participants were encouraged to address the audience and share their personal experiences with racism and privilege. Calise Cowans, 12, of Braddock received a standing ovation after reading a poem she wrote called “White Privilege.”
“She brought me out. She wanted to voice her opinion on what’s going on,” Cowans’s grandfather Terrance Murtaza, 69, said.
Twelve-year-old Calise Cowans, of Braddock, lies on the ground in silence alongside hundreds of others at Point State Park Sunday for eight minutes and 46 seconds, the amount of time prosecutors say a white Minneapolis police officer had his knee on George Floyd's neck before he died. (Photo by Ryan Loew/PublicSource)
Hundreds of people gathered at Point State Park on Sunday for a demonstration against racism and police violence. (Photo by Ryan Loew/PublicSource)
The event ended with the crowd lying on the ground in silence in memory of Floyd, whose death has led to worldwide demonstrations against racism.
Continuing coverage of civil unrest, anti-racism and policing in Pittsburgh (latest at top):
Juliette Rihl is a reporter for PublicSource. She can be reached at juliette@publicsource.org.
Ryan Loew is PublicSource's visual storyteller/producer. He can be reached at ryan@publicsource.org and on Twitter at @RyanLoew.
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