After Mocking Of Floyd Death, Franklinville Activists March Again

FRANKLINVILLE, NJ — A New Jersey Department of Corrections employee stole headlines for his racist act during an otherwise peaceful anti-racism march in Franklinville earlier this week, but demonstrators will attempt to take back the narrative today.

The man, who has since been suspended from the NJDOC, was filmed yelling at protesters and kneeling on the neck of another man, imitating and mocking the death of George Floyd.

Another man seen in the video has been fired from his job with FedEx.

Floyd, a 46-year old Minneapolis man, died on May 25 with the knee of a white police officer on his neck. Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis Police Officer who was captured on video kneeling on Floyd's neck, has been charged with second-degree murder.

On Saturday, Franklinville demonstrators will march again in protest of the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and others. And, according to a nj.com report, they'll walk right by the spot of the racist reenaction.

"We're going right past the place that ignited this on Monday," Merritt told nj.com.

The Saturday march will move from the township library to the township police station.

Fox 29 reporter Kelly Rule posted video to Twitter of protesters marching while remaining silent, stating that the march will be a "quiet walk in solidarity."

Organizers say they will not be chanting during today’s march. It will be a quiet walk in solidarity @FOX29philly pic.twitter.com/AbvgotF4z3
— Kelly Rule (@KellyRuleTV) June 13, 2020

NJ Advance Media's Michael Sol Warren, who is live tweeting the protest, said Daryan Fennal, the organizer of Monday's march, said Gov. Phil Murphy reached out to her directly, saying he wished he could be present.

Sol Warren also posted a photo of the property where the racist actions took place Monday. That property is empty.

The incident, which can be seen below, gained widespread ire from community members, town leaders and a nation anxious for change.

WARNING: VIDEOS CONTAIN STRONG AND OFFENSIVE LANGUAGE

Warning: disturbing content.

A #BlackLivesMatter protest was held in Franklin, New Jersey.

And counter protesters showed up with a display that included one man kneeling on another’s neck.

Utterly horrifying.

pic.twitter.com/6XVeEWV3Mv
— Joshua Potash (@JoshuaPotash) June 9, 2020

Their point of view. I don’t have any words, but I have to share this. pic.twitter.com/1i9jlKnd6H
— Daryan (@dfennal16) June 9, 2020

In a Facebook post, Franklin Township Police say they are aware of the march, and are "prepared for this event."

Police Chief Brian Zimmer, along with other officials, released a statement condemning the acts on Facebook.

"The Franklin Township Committee and its Police Department are appalled and saddened by the revolting actions of certain individuals after Monday's locally organized peaceful march," Mayor John Bruno, Zimmer and Township Committee said in a joint statement. "This is not who we are as a community. We support the goal of this march, which is to spread awareness and to ensure a better future for all of us. Without an understanding and mutual respect for all individuals, we can never aspire to create a united community based upon the idea of human respect and dignity for all."