Virtual Candlelight Vigil In Honor Of George Floyd Set For Monday

BURLINGTON COUNTY, NJ — One week after a Minnesota man was killed in an incident with four police officers, Burlington County residents are being asked to participate in a virtual candlelight vigil.

The Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office and the Southern Burlington County, the Willingboro and Vicinity and the Greater Delaware Valley Branches of the NAACP are asking members of the public, local police departments, houses of worship and community organizations to post an image of a lit candle on their Facebook pages at 8:19 p.m. Monday night.

They then ask that residents engage in eight minutes, 46 seconds of reflection to remember the life of George Floyd and the unfortunate events that have happened following his death. This includes the violence that has erupted out of peaceful protests, which in one instance cost Federal Protective Service Officer Dave Patrick Underwood his life, in Oakland, California, the prosecutor’s office said in its announcement.

“We encourage everyone to use this time to reflect on your own personal convictions, and the side of history you have been on thus far,” the prosecutor’s office said. “As a community, let us take a moment to band together instead of pulling apart, and think about how we all can treat each other with more respect, dignity and humanity. No good can come from a police officer who disregards their oath to uphold the law or who stands idly by while another does so, or from people protesting for equal justice by breaking the law and resorting to unprovoked violence. We as a community and a society are better than what we have seen this week. We must chart a brighter future — together.”

Floyd, a black man, was handcuffed and lying face down on a Minneapolis street Monday when officer Derek Chauvin kept his knee on Floyd's neck for 8 minutes, 46 seconds. Floyd became unresponsive after 2 minutes, 53 seconds, according to the criminal complaint.

Chauvin was charged Friday 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.
Protests in other parts of the state also began peacefully before violence took hold later Sunday night. Protests also resulted in mass destruction in Philadelphia over the weekend.

Participants can signify their presence in the virtual candlelight vigil by using one or all of the following hash tags: #RIPGeorgeFloyd; #peaceinourstreets; #equaljusticeforall; #humanityinpolicing; #respectgoodpolice; #BurlcoVigil.