Brewster Vigil Draws Hundreds To Wells Park

BREWSTER, NY — A vigil in memory of George Floyd brought several hundred people to Wells Park Friday. Floyd died May 25 in Minnesota with a police officer's knee on his neck.

The protest in Brewster included not only speeches but also silence for 8 minutes and 46 seconds, the length of time given in a criminal complaint against the officer.

Quoting a post she found on Facebook, one of the organizers, Shana Gallagher of Brewster, said, "Speaking out against white supremacy and race-based violence does not make you anti-white, anti-police, right or left. It makes you pro-justice."

Since Floyd's death was caught on viral video, protests have taken place across the United States by Americans calling for an end to police brutality and more attempts to address systemic racism and fulfill a promise made to black Americans with the Civil Rights Act decades ago.

Paula Bryan came to Wells Park with her husband and kids Emmett, 9, and Wyatt, 6. "We're African-American members of the community supporting other African-Americans," she said.

Another attendee, Katherine O'Sullivan, said "I just felt like I couldn't stay home any longer." She said she was disheartened by all the negative social media comments about the Brewster vigil, including threats and assumptions that protesters were from out-of-town.

Organizers said they were planning another event and would let the community know.