Paterson Takes To Streets In Peaceful Protest Of Police Violence

PATERSON, NJ — Gathered on the steps of the free public library in Paterson, organizers and residents spoke out against police violence in the wake of the death of George Floyd.

Zellie Thomas and US Senate candidate Lawrence Hamm headlined a group of inspired speakers as hundreds gathered in the intersection of Broadway and Auburn.

"You are joining people all over the country who have said enough is enough," said Hamm to the crowd, who held signs are participated in multiple chants.

Thomas, who was present for some protests in Minneapolis, led an eight-minute kneel, honoring the 8 minutes and 46 seconds Derek Chauvin kneeled on the neck of George Floyd. On Monday, an independent autopsy revealed Floyd's cause of death to be asphyxia due to sustained forceful pressure. Dr. Michael Baden and Dr. Allecia Wilson, who performed the autopsy, ruled his death a homicide.

Both Thomas and Hamm addressed the killing of Floyd, and the death of Jameek Lowery, who died in 2019 after he livestreamed an encounter with police in which he asked for water, and for officers not to shoot him. He died at St. Joeseph's Regional Medical Center two days later.

"Murder, when it is committed in a blue uniform, is still murder," said Hamm.

Protesters marched first to the Paterson police headquarters, then to city hall, then back to the library in a demonstration that included singing, chanting and feats of athleticism by some of the city's skateboarders and bicyclists.

The entrance to police headquarters was barricaded, with officers standing away from the crowd as they shouted requests that they kneel with them. Eventually, members of the police did kneel with protesters as some made their way around the barricade, and joined them in marching to city hall.

Multiple groups organized to hand out water and food, as well as provide basic medical help, which wasn’t need.

A representative from a group which donned labels reading “medics” said it was a “good day” if they didn’t need to provide medical help. The group as a whole chooses to remain anonymous.

Another man, who also declined to be named, organized an effort to hand out chips and water outside city hall. “Everybody got to do their part,” he said.

Eventually, protesters made their way back to the library and dispersed around 8 p.m.

This comes after Paterson protesters gathered over the weekend in what was an example of the state's largely peaceful protests after George Floyd was killed in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Floyd, 46, was killed after then Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin kneeled on his neck for nearly nine minutes. Video, which captured Floyd saying "I can't breathe", went viral, and sparked nationwide protests.

A flyer for the rally stated that it was organized in an effort for Paterson to stand in solidarity with the rest of the country after the deaths of Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbrey and Jameek Lowery, who died in Paterson last year.

On Route 80 in Paterson, a mural has been created which reads "I can't breathe," a phrase Floyd said multiple times while Chauvin kneeled on his neck. The phrase has been used in protests opposed to police violence since the 2017 death of Eric Garner.