Peaceful Protest In New Canaan Postponed To Thursday: UPDATE

NEW CANAAN, CT — A peaceful protest against racism, originally scheduled for Wednesday, has been postponed to Thursday due to expected inclement weather, according to organizers.

The event, which calls for justice for George Floyd, is scheduled to queue on Thursday at 5 p.m. at Saxe Middle School and begin marching at 5:30 p.m. to New Canaan Police Headquarters and back to the middle school, via Church Street and Main Avenue.

Organizers ask that marchers wear protective face masks during the protest.

"What happened to George Floyd was a disgrace, but it was far from unusual," the flyer promoting the protest says. " It's time to invoke change in the system."

Floyd was a 46-year-old black man who died during an arrest last week in Minneapolis, Minnesota. During the incident, a white police officer, Derek Chauvin, positioned his knee on Floyd's throat and held it there for nearly nine minutes; Floyd could be heard on video saying that he couldn't breathe, and people at the scene could be heard begging the officer to get off of him.

Chauvin has been charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter, but three other police officers at the scene who did not intervene have not been charged. All four officers have been fired from the Minneapolis Police Department.

Since the May 25 killing, protests have sprung up across the country calling for an end to systematic racism. While most marches have been peaceful, some have turned violent, ending with widespread property damage and looting.

On Monday, New Canaan Police Chief Leon Krolikowski issued a statement condemning the actions of the Minneapolis police officer, and vowing that New Canaan police officers will always strive to protect the rights of all citizens.