Peaceful Protest In Moorestown Honors George Floyd

MOORESTOWN, NJ — A diverse crowd of hundreds of people that included many students participated in the peaceful protest march that was held in Moorestown following the death of George Floyd on Tuesday. Some estimated the crowd to be close to, if not more than, 1,000 people.

“It was a large crowd, very peaceful,” Moorestown Police Chief Lee Lieber said. “Everyone was very respectful. That’s what we were hoping for. I know some people were concerned, but I spoke to the young ladies who were organizers, and they were intent on doing something that was peaceful and very respectful.”

"It couldn't have turned out any better," said Moorestown Mayor Nicole Gillespie, who spoke during the event. "I wanted to show support for the peaceful protest and the deeper issues that are coming to light."

She told those who gathered that everyone needed to work together to make progress, and encouraged everyone to keep their eyes open and listen to each other.

The march began at noon at town hall. The group marched down Main Street and back. Main Street was closed during the walk, but was reopened by about 12:45 p.m.

Protesters then gave speeches outside the recreation center at town hall early Tuesday afternoon, and concluded with eight minutes of silence in honor of Floyd.

The moment of silence represented the eight minutes, 46 seconds in which Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin kept his knee on Floyd's neck while Floyd was handcuffed beneath a police car. Floyd became unresponsive after 2 minutes, 53 seconds, according to the criminal complaint. Chauvin and three other officers involved in the incident have since been fired, and Chauvin was charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter.

In the wake of Floyd's death, protests against racism and police brutality have sparked around the world. The protest in Moorestown was among the many peaceful protests across New Jersey.

In her speech, Gillespie also thanked the police department, which she said works hard with the community. They have regular meetings with the local NAACP. They are also equipped with body cameras and undergo de-escalation training under guidelines issued by the State Attorney General's Office.

“We’ve always had a good relationship with the community,” Lieber said. “I was encouraged by the diverse crowd.”

He said it was important for the community to “come together to reject hate and violence” through peaceful dialogue.

Other speakers included Rep. Andy Kim (D-3), State Sen. Troy Singleton (D-7), Converge Church Pastor Jonathan Leath and a number of students.

“Each and every one of us has to ask today and every day, what are we willing to do? What are you willing to do to fight for the country you know that this country is?” Kim said. “We are better than this. We as a country are better than this.”

"They were eloquent and moving. They said some powerful things," Gillespie said of the students. "They asked for curriculum reform and a greater focus on the true history of our country and not just one month for Black History."

Do you have pictures or videos of the protest you’d like to share with Moorestown Patch? You can send images to Anthony.Bellano@patch.com.