BLM Protest in Tallahassee

Written By Strike Magazine

On May 25th, 2020 in Minneapolis, Minnesota George Floyd, a 46-year-old Black man, was murdered while in police custody. He laid face down, handcuffed, with Derek Chauvin, a white police officer, pressing his knee into Floyd’s neck for a total of eight minutes and 46 seconds, despite Floyd begging for his life, shouting “I can’t breathe,” and eventually losing consciousness. There were two other police officers involved, Thomas Lane and J.A. Keung, restraining Floyd and a fourth officer, Tou Thao, who was present and did not heed Floyd or onlookers pleas.

Unlike the unjust murders of the past, footage of George Floyd’s murder was filmed and quickly instilled outrage in people across the world. Protests have spread to over 400 cities (and counting) in all 50 states and overseas to countries like Britain, Germany, Syria, Canada, and many others. This is just the beginning.

From the organizers:

“..... After getting a few DMs, we collectively decided to actually try to organize an event with a real purpose and message. We did Group FaceTime and came up with the busiest intersections we could think of in Tallahassee and narrowed those down to 3 to honor the lives of Tony McDade, Wilbon Woodard, and Mychael Johnson. We then decided on our objectives and an exact schedule for when we’d be moving around and such. (cont.)

…I am protesting for my brothers and my sisters and the rest of my black family and friends. I’m protesting for myself. I’m protesting for Tony McDade, Wilbon Woodard, Mychael Johnson, George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, Sandra Bland, Trayvon Martin, Eric Garner, Tamir Rice, and every single other black person who has had had their life taken because of the color of their skin. I’m protesting for their justice because they did not die in vain. I’m protesting for black people!!!! (cont.)

…I have a feeling that the future of this country is going to be very different from where we are now, in fact, I’m confident in that. Especially with seeing what’s going on across the country right now. People are sick and tired of what’s going on. I see the police being completely deconstructed, I see our government being restructured, I see a hell of a lot of people getting exposed and dealt with accordingly. I truly think everything going on right now is the beginning of something huge.” - Nakiah Lockwood

“...By the time we got to our last location, there were so many people gathered on West Tennessee/Ocala in support of the movement it almost didn’t even feel real. I had been trying to hold in my tears the entire day but in that moment that we ran into the middle of the intersection, I couldn’t help but just cry. Everyone marching down the street that I have been in almost every day of my life hearing “Black Lives Matter” and “No Justice No Peace” was so surreal and empowering. (cont.)

I’ve been hearing a lot of people saying that “protests don’t matter, they aren’t going to change anything”, but I absolutely couldn’t disagree with anything more. Protests are the cries of people who have had enough and seek change! If every person in America is sick with how people are being treated then shouldn’t there be protests in every city? 

...Just a few moments ago, I heard that they raised the degree of Derek Chauvin and charged the other three officers involved in the killing of George Floyd and I’m supposed to believe that protesting doesn’t help. The reason for the protests isn’t about ANTI-Police propaganda, but the ending of systematic racism that is deeply rooted in the Police force that allows them to get away with racially targeted murders. I hope that America will finally reach a place of an equal and fair playing field. No matter how long it takes, the fight always continues.” -

Jivan Nkansah

The protesters:

“... Lying face down with my hands behind my back in the middle of an intersection while listening to the cries of fellow protesters was by far the most powerful moment in my life. I will continue to amplify the voices of the black community and stand with them despite the fact that I will never understand what it’s like to be oppressed for the color of my skin. I want change and I want it now. I want people to stop ignoring the problem and making excuses like “it’s not my job to fix it” or “it’s not affecting me.” I want non-POC to recognize the fact that doing nothing puts them on the opposing side of this war between love and hate. I want unity. I want peace. I want god damn equality because no one should ever fear for their life as a result of the skin they were born with. Born with. Not chosen to have. Not given to as a punishment. Born. With. America’s got a long way to go. I don’t know what will ensue along the way. But, we will not stop until this country ceases to pass any judgment, cause any harm, or have any feeling of inferiority toward anyone based on the color of their skin. Because black lives matter.” - Lily Fox

“This was the first protest I’ve ever been to. I just feel such a big responsibility to make a change because racial injustice has gone on for way too long. I recognize my privilege as a white person and the fact that I’ve had an immediate advantage just because of the color of my skin and I find that to be utterly disgusting. Posting on social media and sharing pertinent information surrounding racism in this country is important, but actually going into your community and taking action is the only way to end up on the other side of history where black lives matter in the eyes of America as a whole.” - Chloe Gossin

“The color of my skin has granted me undeserving privilege each and every day and to sit back and to let this sort of unjustness occur for another hundred years or so by remaining silent, would be just as toxic as those who actively discriminate against the black community. I hope to see more people speak up and advocate for change. Ultimately, the main thing I hope that results from this is complete and utter equality. Justice from coast to coast, from state to state, from neighborhood to neighborhood. For police officers to stop targeting and oppressing the black community. This may be my optimism speaking, but I do see the light at the end of the tunnel. I can only hope that people will wake up and realize the severity of the issue at hand and take action to make things right. I don’t know how long it will take, but I do see justice in the future, and I will do everything in my power to hopefully see this change.” - Kelsey Coletti

“I had a plethora of emotions. I was empowered, happy, and a little bit nervous. In the moment, it seemed very surreal to be in a crowd with so many eyes on us. Before we marched I was getting anxious seeing al the cops, then I realized in this moment I had the power to continue to speak my mind and raise awareness for the black community. all lives can’t matter until black lives matter and the time for action is now.” - Sarah Anthony

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