Thousands of people gathered in front of the Vancouver Art Gallery Sunday for a peaceful protest against police violence and white supremacy, following days of protests across the U.S. over the death of George Floyd.
Thousands of people gathered in front of the Vancouver Art Gallery Sunday for a peaceful protest against police violence and white supremacy, following days of protests across the U.S. over the death of George Floyd, a handcuffed black man who died last Monday as a white Minneapolis police officer pressed his knee into Floyd’s neck.
All streets surrounding the art gallery were closed to traffic as Vancouver police at the event told CBC News the crowd had swelled to an estimated 3,500 by 6 p.m. PT.
Many of the demonstrators wore face masks, held signs and chanted, “Black lives matter” and, “No justice, no peace.”
At one point, the only sound was the wind as the crowd raised their fists in the air and held a moment of silence.
Floyd died May 25. The officer who pressed his knee into Floyd’s neck, Derek Chauvin, faces charges of third-degree murder and manslaughter.
Vancouver police now estimate around 3,500 people have gathered around the art gallery. Speakers continue to share stories of oppression. All surrounding streets have been closed @cbcnewsbc pic.twitter.com/sKVO2KEcwO
One of the organizers, Jacob Callender-Prasad, told CBC News before the protest that it would include speeches and a candlelight vigil for Floyd and Regis Korchinski-Paquet, a Toronto woman who apparently fell to her death from a balcony on Wednesday.
It’s an opportunity for the local black community to share their own experiences, show solidarity