Community Corner
Englewood, Paterson Protests Remain Peaceful
Englewood and Paterson joined towns and cities across the state and country in protesting the death of George Floyd.
NEW JERSEY — Weekend protests in Englewood, Paterson and much of New Jersey remained peaceful amidst a weekend of national confrontation between police and protestors in the aftermath of the killing of George Floyd 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 the nationwide protests.
In Englewood, protesters marched from Mackay Park to the Englewood Police Station. According to a northjersey.com report, thousands attended.
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The protest was attended by people from across the county.
Northjersey.com reporter Shayla Brown shared a video on Twitter of Teaneck High School head football coach Samuel Griffin explaining why it was important for he and his son to attend the protest.
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“I think it is important for him to know that he has no reason to be afraid of the police or cops if he is not breaking any laws, and that his rights matter,” Griffin told northjersey.com.
In addition to the protest in Englewood, protesters in Paterson gathered outside City Hall over the weekend, and, according to northjersey.com, protested both the killing of Floyd and Jameek Lowery's death.
Lowery, a 27-year-old Paterson man, 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.
In Newark, protesters marched down Market Street to the courthouse. Mayor Ras Baraka joined the protesters in the march and protest, which lasted over four hours. A vigil in Morristown also remained peaceful, and Morristown Mayor Tim Dougherty shared a message of support, though didn't attend.
More protests have been planned for this week across New Jersey, including in North Bergen.
Read more: Floyd Protests Reportedly Planned In Newark, Jersey City, Hoboken
Have photos from the protests this weekend, or information on additional protests, vigils or demonstrations this week? Email montana.samuels@patch.com
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