Tampa Bay Rallies Planned To Protest Death Of George Floyd

TAMPA, FL — Anger and frustration following the death of a black man in Minneapolis at the hands of a white police officer Monday has prompted protest rallies throughout the country including four this weekend in Tampa Bay.

People around the country are expressing outrage over a cellphone video that was released showing 46-year-old George Floyd on the ground while a Minneapolis Police officer placed his knee on Floyd's neck. The former high school football star can be heard on the video pleading for help, telling officers he was unable to breathe. Floyd was later pronounced dead.

The police officer who held Floyd down has been arrested and three other officers who looked on have been fired.

Tampa community activist Alyssa Penna Alves Ackbar said incidents like this will continue to occur until communities come together and demand an end to police brutality.

"We must acknowledge and condemn the violence that is occurring on a daily basis in our communities," said Ackbar, who is helping to organize the Justice for George Floyd Protest on Sunday from 5 to 7 p.m. in Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park, 600 N. Ashley Drive, downtown Tampa.

The Florida State University international affairs major is no stranger to social protests.

In September, she helped organize the March for Our Lives Tampa Bay Bands & Ballots event and, in November, she was among the leaders at the Peace Plan For A Safer Florida/Rally to Tally 2 for gun control in Tallahassee.

The jarring video also motivated Tampa Bay Students for a Democratic Society to take action. The group has organized a Justice for George Floyd Protest Saturday at 2 p.m. at the Boston Market on the corner of 56th Street and Fowler Avenue in Temple Terrace as part of the National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression's call for national action.

Among those who plan to attend is Land O' Lakes resident Chelsea Lonon.

"When I saw the video, I was completely shaken," said Lonon. "It was incredibly painful to watch the video and hear George Floyd beg for his life. I sobbed for a really long time. I started off feeling very sad but, the more I dwelled on it, the more angry I got. I'm extremely angry this happened again and continues to happen again and again and again."

Lonon, who is white, said she feels impelled to add her voice to the efforts to stop racial violence.

"Black people have a target on their back for the color of their skin," she said. "It has become painfully obvious that black lives do not matter as much as white lives in this country. It's my duty as a white person to fight for equality for all people. All lives can't matter until black lives matter. The culture needs to shift, and we need to be better. I have to speak out for black lives; I cannot stay complicit. I won't stop standing up for black lives until they are equal to white lives."

The protest will be in person with social distancing guidelines in place but cars decorated with signs and banners are welcome as well.

Also rallying this weekend is the Tampa Bay chapter of the New Black Panther Party for Self-Defense. Using the quote Floyd uttered with his dying breath, the New Black Panther Party is planning the "I Can’t Breathe" Justice for George Floyd Solidarity March on Sunday at noon outside the Tampa Police District 3 Station, 3808 N. 22nd St., Tampa.

In addition to marching on behalf of George Floyd, chapter chairman Ali Abdul Muhammad said the peaceful rally will also shine a light on the senseless violence that has occurred in recent months in Tampa. The chapter is urging anyone who has lost a loved one join in.

March organizers also will adhere to social distancing guidelines and are urging participants to wear face masks.

On the other side of the bay, residents Anthony Thomas Koedel and Tracy Penokie are organizing a Justice For George Floyd + All Other Victims Of Police Brutality march and rally starting at St. Petersburg City Hall, 175 5th St. N., St. Petersburg, on Saturday at 2 p.m.

Koedel said those attending will gather at city hall and proceed to the St. Petersburg Police Department. They will stay there as long as they need to before ending with a rally at Williams Park in hopes of returning Sunday night.

"When the protests started in Minneapolis, we looked for events here in the Tampa area and there were none, so we went ahead and created our own," said Koedel, a longtime activist who met and befriended Penokie seven years ago at the Annual March Against Monsanto. "In totality, this is much bigger than George Floyd, but he is most definitely the catalyst here, and he is the first issue to address here nonetheless."

While it's being called a "peaceful demonstration of solidarity for George Floyd," Koedel isn't giving any guarantees.

"Ever since the murder of George Floyd, protests and riots have continued each day and night in Minneapolis," Koedel wrote on Facebook. "Police have been dispersing tear gas and bean bags at unarmed protestors, which eventually led to civil unrest. We've heard this story plenty. We will do the same here if need be."

While he said he fully intends to host a peaceful rally, the outrage over the death of George Floyd combined with the frustration over job losses and business failures due to the coronavirus pandemic and ongoing corruption by government and big business is testing the patience of Tampa Bay residents.

"For clarification, no, we aren't calling for violence or burning. But neither did Ferguson, Baltimore or Minneapolis," he said. "Peaceful unarmed protestors get provoked by police who disperse tear gas and bean bags against the citizens they are sworn to protect."

Koedel said social distancing and the wearing of face masks is up to the individual participant.

"If they need a mask, wear one. If you need 6 feet, take it," said Koedel.

See related stories:

• Sarasota Police Suspend Restraint Technique Used On George Floyd
• Tampa Bay Chiefs 'Outraged' Over Actions Of Minneapolis Officer
• George Floyd Death: Former Cop Derek Chauvin Arrested
• Miami-Area Police Chiefs 'Outraged' Over Death Of George Floyd
• St. Pete Minister And Police Outraged Over Death Of George Floyd