14 THE QUEENS COURIER • JUNE 4, 2020 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
protest
Photo by Dean Moses
Queens peacefully protests the
police-involved killing of George Floyd
BY ANGÉLICA ACEVEDO, JEFFERY
HARRELL, GRANT LANCASTER,
DEAN MOSES AND ZACH GEWELB
Protesters took to the streets of Queens
this weekend — as they have across the
country — to speak out against the killing
of George Floyd, a black man who died
aft er a white Minneapolis police offi cer,
Derek Chauvin, dug his knee into Floyd’s
neck for over eight minutes.
On Saturday, nearly 1,000 protesters
marched through Jackson Heights.
On Sunday, protesters took to Jamaica’s
streets. And on Monday, protesters gathered
in Astoria Park to mourn Floyd’s
death and call for change.
Despite being only miles from protests
in Brooklyn, Manhattan and the Bronx
that became violent aft er sunset, protests
in Queens remained relatively peaceful,
with few clashes between police and protesters.
But the message in Queens was the
same as the message heard in Brooklyn
and beyond — police violence against
black people must stop.
“I’m tired. I’m tired of seeing it, I’m
tired of living it, I’m tired of being in
fear,” Jamaica resident Malaika Brutus
told QNS on Saturday in Jackson Heights.
“Something has to change.”
On Saturday, May 30, protesters gathered
in Diversity Plaza on Roosevelt
Avenue and Broadway, before making
their way up Broadway, stopping traffi c
for several blocks.
Protesters chanted “no peace, no justice,”
and “say his name: George Floyd!”
with their fi sts in the air as police offi cers
wearing riot gear gripped tightly to their
batons, shadowing the marchers every
move. Th ere were times when the demonstrators
went head to head with the offi -
cers, screaming that they are tired of the
abuse and the deaths.
But for most of the march, the atmosphere
was rather peaceful and calm in
comparison to the fracas that unfolded
Friday night outside Brooklyn’s Barclays
Center.
Activists handed out water, masks and
snacks as the marchers wound their way
toward the 115th Precinct.
As the Queens group passed along a residential
block, neighbors rang out cowbells
in support of the eff ort.
Several Q32 bus drivers showed their
support with loud honks,
along with many others stuck
in traffi c due to the protest.
Th e Transit Workers
Union Local 100 have
made public statements
in support of the Black
Lives Matter protesters,
with one driver
refusing to
allow the NYPD
to transport
arrested
activists
at Friday’s
protest in
Brooklyn.
Residents
and business owners in Jackson Heights
rang bells and beat on buckets out of their
windows, reminiscent of the nightly ritual
celebrating health care workers during
the COVID-19 pandemic.
Chris Ogunfowora, who traveled from
Elmont in Long Island, felt it necessary to
protest even during the pandemic.
“If you’re not doing anything at this
point, you’re standing up for the police
who keep killing us,” he said behind a
black protective mask. “Th ere’s nothing
left to argue about, we need justice.”
Th e crowd fl ooded the roadways, stopping
traffi c, as they made their way to the
115th Precinct in Jackson Heights. State
Senator Jessica Ramos, came face to face
with the offi cers and warned them not to
harm the protesters. She could be heard
telling the offi cers, “do not touch my people.”
Th e march came to a halt in front
of the precinct as protesters continued
to shout in Spanish, “asesinos
police,” which translates to “murderous
police,” in English.
State Senator
M i c h a e l
G i a n a r i s
m a r c h e d
with protesters
for
several blocks.
He said it’s
important for
those who don’t
grow up with fear that
people of color grow up with to
“stand up and show support.”
“I’m here because there is
Protesters rally in Jackson Heights.
Photo by REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz
A peaceful protest in Flushing Meadows Corona Park.
Photo by Dean Moses
/WWW.QNS.COM
