'Rally For Justice' Planned To Take Place In Greenwich

GREENWICH, CT — Days after a large crowd of protesters gathered in front of the town's public safety complex, a "rally for justice" to honor George Floyd and "so many other before him" is planned to take place Saturday in Greenwich.

The event, organized by Indivisible Greenwich, will take place at 2 p.m. in front of Greenwich Town Hall. (To sign up for Greenwich breaking news alerts and more, click here.)

Monday's peaceful protest and the upcoming rally were both sparked by Floyd's death in Minneapolis and the deaths of other minorities at the hands of law enforcement.

According to a flyer posted on the organization's website, the rally is intended to "unite against systematic criminal injustice and systematic racism" and "stand up to protect First Amendment freedoms of speech and peaceful assembly."

The announcement also emphasizes the event will be peaceful.

"We will hear from speakers and come together to mourn and explore ways we can move forward in a productive manner," the flyer reads.

Participants are asked to wear face masks and practice social distancing, both of which are "required." Wearing black is also encouraged.

Further information about the rally can be found at the Indivisible Greenwich website.

The event will be the second peaceful demonstration held in town following Floyd's death. On Monday, a group of over 100 protesters gathered in front of the town's public safety complex.

See also: Peaceful Protesters Gather In Front Of Greenwich Police HQ

In a series of tweets Monday evening, Hearst Connecticut Media Group photojournalist Tyler Sizemore posted photos and videos of the protesters making their way toward the complex while chanting "I can't breathe."

Greenwich Police officers could also be seen in a video kneeling in front of the door to the building as the protesters voiced their concerns and chanted "George Floyd."

Protesters could also be seen in photos holding signs that read "you can kill a man but you can't kill an idea" and "not turning the other cheek."

In an email Tuesday, Lt. Mark Zuccerella said the crowd of protesters reached about 130 people at its peak. He also said both Police Chief James Heavey and First Selectman Fred Camillo met with the group of protesters and discussed many of their concerns.

The lieutenant also provided a statement from the department regarding the peaceful demonstration.

"We stand together in our outrage against those who violate the rights of any person, regardless of their personal or group identity," the department said in a statement. "We appreciated hearing all the voices and support the expression of all views in a peaceful manner. The Greenwich Police Department will always seek to join with those interested in dialogue about ensuring equity and fairness in the community. Our commitment as police officers is to uphold the U.S. and state constitutions—impartially and unbiased for the protection of every single person; together we can make a difference."

Protests over Floyd's death began after he died while being forcibly arrested on Memorial Day by Minneapolis police. The protests later spread to major U.S. cities including Atlanta, New York, Los Angeles and now here in Connecticut this weekend. Fired police officer Derek Chauvin, the officer seen in a viral video with his knee of Floyd's neck, has been arrested and is charged with third-degree murder.

The deaths of Ahmaud Arbery in coastal Georgia, Breonna Taylor in Louisville, Ky., and Floyd sparked a movement for justice across the country. While protesters mobilized in Connecticut, numerous local law enforcement agencies and groups issued statements condemning the actions by police that led to Floyd's death.

On Saturday, Heavey released a statement on the department's Facebook page regarding the department's duty and role within the community.

"The Greenwich Police Department abhors all forms of police brutality and any action that deprives the people we serve their constitutional rights or due process of law," Heavey said on Facebook. "We are sworn to protect each and every person, equally and fairly. We will always serve the Greenwich community without fear or favor. Our policies and practices are based on the foundation of constitutional policing. We obtain and keep our authority only by working with the people we swore an oath to serve. This sacred trust is the cement that binds the police and community. We strive for transparency and openness."

Heavey also encouraged anyone who feels there is anything Greenwich Police could do to better serve them to contact the department.

On Sunday, an employee at Binney Park reported someone had spray painted a message that read "#BLM" on the doors of the park's bathroom.

See also: #BLM Spray Painted On Bathroom Doors At Greenwich Park: Police

The hashtag typically stands for "Black Lives Matter" and has been trending over the past few days as protests have popped up throughout the state and the country.