Hundreds In Stratford Protest Police Brutality After Floyd Death

STRATFORD, CT — The lawn outside Stratford Town Hall was crowded Saturday with hundreds of peaceful protesters bearing signs declaring, “Black Lives Matter,” in response to the killing of Minnesota man George Floyd, who died Monday in police custody.

“It’s important that we’re seen and heard,” Ashley Bowers, one of the organizers, told the crowd, which appeared to be well over 200 people. “... We need to put an end to police brutality of those of color.”

Protests over Floyd's death began after he was forcibly arrested on Memorial Day by Minneapolis police. Fired police officer Derek Chauvin, seen in a viral video with his knee on Floyd's neck, has been arrested and charged with third-degree murder.

Throughout the week, the protests spread to major U.S. cities including Atlanta, New York, Los Angeles and here in Connecticut. Protests were held all across the state, including in Bridgeport, where Route 8 was closed Saturday due to demonstrators on the highway.

The Stratford event was organized in less than 24 hours by Stratford High School graduates and current college students Bowers, Jayla Frederick, Sarah Kotsay and Lauren Wright. The protest included several speakers, a moment of silence and chants of, “No justice, no peace.”

“I’m tired of having to explain why I am a human being,” Frederick said to the crowd.

Other speakers cited statistics about police brutality against black men and the charging and conviction rates of violent members of law enforcement. According to the University of Michigan, use of force by police is the sixth-leading cause of death for young black men in the U.S., and 100 in 100,000 black men and boys will be killed by police — more than twice the rate for white men and boys.

“When the color of your skin is seen as a weapon, you will never be seen as unarmed,” said Wright, reading from a speech written by her sister, Brittany Wright.

Organizers stressed the importance of safety due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, urging attendees to wear face masks and stand 6 feet apart. The protest was originally set to include a march from Paradise Green to Town Hall, but Stratford police, who were stationed around the perimeter of the event to manage the crowds, had concerns about participants’ ability to maintain safe distancing while marching.

Those present had a range of reasons for protesting.

Stratford resident Simone Scott said she was tired of black people getting killed, “for no reason at all,” while Therese LeFever, also of Stratford, said racism is, “a white person’s problem.”

“I’m here to say I want to stand up and try to do something about it,” LeFever said.

Several local officials attended the protest, including Democrat Councilwoman Kaitlyn Shake and state Reps. Joseph Gresko and Phil Young, both of whom expressed dismay at the actions of Minneapolis police in connection with Floyd’s death.

Mayor Laura Hoydick did not speak or appear to attend Saturday’s event, but issued a statement about the Floyd case the night before, in which she conveyed shock and horror at Floyd’s death and the actions of the officers involved.

“I am proud that here in Stratford we have a Police Department that has shaped a culture of nurturing important relationships with all of our diverse communities, including our successful Police Engagement Program which was developed through the Police Activities League which focuses on educating the public and police officers on deescalating tense encounters with the police,” she said in the statement.

While speaking to Saturday’s crowd, Shake referenced the work of New Haven Democrat state Sen. Gary Winfield, who has passed several bills to hold law enforcement accountable and increase transparency surrounding police misconduct, according to The Connecticut Mirror.

As the protest was coming to a close, a man took the microphone to complain that his friend was denied the opportunity to speak. Wright responded that the protest had a set lineup of speakers.

Following the event, protesters lined the Town Hall lawn, where their signs were met by honks from passing cars.

See also:

• Businesses Find Broken Windows, Trash Day After ATL Riot
• George Floyd Death: Former Cop Derek Chauvin Charged With Murder
• Minneapolis In 'Absolute Chaos' As Protests Break Out Across U.S.