Protesters kneel during eight minutes of silence at the Mirror Pond outside of the Salem Police Station on Saturday, June 13, for the End White Silence rally. George Floyd of Minneapolis died after a police officer kneeled on his neck for nearly nine minutes. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
Organizers of the End White Silence rally held in Salem were determined. They wanted those who participated to do more than wave signs and shout chants. They wanted them to act against racism.
So, they offered a flier with tips, including suggested readings.
Speakers addressed issues of race as they stood on the steps of the Capitol.
And at the end of a march to Salem City Hall and back to the Capitol, panelists set up to handle questions from the audience.
The event on Saturday, June 13, drew several hundred participants. Downtown Salem streets were closed for the afternoon so they could parade to city hall.
There, gathered around Mirror Pond, they knelt in silence for eight minutes, 46 seconds – the time that George Floyd is recorded pleading he couldn’t breathe as a Minneapolis police office kneeled on his neck. Floyd’s death on Memorial Day was the catalyst for protests and demonstrations across the U.S. that continued through last weekend.
Tyson Frederick, 2, rides the shoulders of his grandfather, Dave Hiser, during the End White Silence rally in Salem on Saturday, June 13. (Kate McMahon/Salem Reporter)
Hundreds gathered at the Capitol and marched to the Mirror Pond outside of the Salem Police Department on Saturday, June 13, for the End White Silence rally. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
Hundreds gathered at the Capitol and marched to the Mirror Pond outside of the Salem Police Department on Saturday, June 13, for the End White Silence rally. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
Hundreds gathered at the Capitol and marched to the Mirror Pond outside of the Salem Police Department on Saturday, June 13, for the End White Silence rally. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
Heather Carmichael speaks during the End White Silence rally in Salem on Saturday, June 13. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
A flier handed out at the End White Silence rally on Saturday, June 13, in Salem provides tips for people to act against racism. (Kate McMahon/Salem Reporter)
Shelaswau Crier of Salem speaks during the End White Silence event at the Capitol on Saturday, June 13. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
Hundreds gathered at the Capitol and marched to the Mirror Pond outside of the Salem Police Department on Saturday, June 13, for the End White Silence rally. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
Brandy Woods watches as the End White Silence rally she helped organize proceeds at the Capitol on Saturday, June 13. (Kate McMahon/Salem Reporter)
Hundreds gathered at the Capitol and marched to the Mirror Pond outside of the Salem Police Department on Saturday, June 13, for the End White Silence rally. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
Hundreds gathered at the Capitol and marched to the Mirror Pond outside of the Salem Police Department on Saturday, June 13, for the End White Silence rally. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
Hundreds gathered at the Capitol and marched to the Mirror Pond outside of the Salem Police Department on Saturday, June 13, for the End White Silence rally. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
Hundreds gathered at the Capitol and marched to the Mirror Pond outside of the Salem Police Department on Saturday, June 13, for the End White Silence rally. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
Hundreds gathered at the Capitol and marched to the Mirror Pond outside of the Salem Police Department on Saturday, June 13, for the End White Silence rally. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
Demonstrators march through downtown Salem on Saturday, June 13, as part of the End White Silence rally. Several hundred people listened to speeches, marched to Salem City Hall, and kneeled in silence for George Floyd. (Kate McMahon/Salem Reporter)
Hundreds gathered at the Capitol and marched to the Mirror Pond outside of the Salem Police Department on Saturday, June 13, for the End White Silence rally. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
Hundreds gathered at the Capitol and marched to the Mirror Pond outside of the Salem Police Department on Saturday, June 13, for the End White Silence rally. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
Hundreds gathered at the Capitol and marched to the Mirror Pond outside of the Salem Police Department on Saturday, June 13, for the End White Silence rally. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
Heather Carmichael, an organizer of the event, leads protestors in eight minutes of silence at the Mirror Pond outside of the Salem Police Department on Saturday, June 13, for the End White Silence rally. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
Hundreds gathered at the Capitol and marched to the Mirror Pond outside of the Salem Police Department on Saturday, June 13, for the End White Silence rally. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
Hundreds gathered at the Capitol and marched to the Mirror Pond outside of the Salem Police Department on Saturday, June 13, for the End White Silence rally. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
Hundreds gathered at the State Capitol and marched to the Mirror Pond outside of the Salem Police Department on Saturday, June 13, for the End White Silence rally. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
Hundreds gathered at the Capitol and marched to the Mirror Pond outside of the Salem Police Department on Saturday, June 13, for the End White Silence rally. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
Hundreds gathered at the Capitol and marched to the Mirror Pond outside of the Salem Police Department on Saturday, June 13, for the End White Silence rally. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
Protesters kneel during eight minutes of silence at the Mirror Pond outside of the Salem Police Department on Saturday, June 13, for the End White Silence rally. George Floyd of Minneapolis died after a police officer kneeled on his neck for nearly nine minutes. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
Protesters kneel during eight minutes of silence at the Mirror Pond outside of the Salem Police Department on Saturday, June 13, for the End White Silence rally. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
Officers from the Salem Police Department watch as the End White Silence rally on Saturday, June 13, makes a stop outside the police station. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
Following the march, Oni Marchbanks speaks during a panel following to answer questions submitted by the crowd. Hundreds gathered at the Capitol on Saturday, June 13, for the End White Silence rally. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
RELATED COVERAGE:
Largely white audience in Salem gets the message: Act on racism
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