Local artist organizes peaceful ‘I can’t breathe’ march to remember George Floyd
YUMA, Ariz. ( KYMA, KECY) - In the wake of George Floyd's death, local citizens take the streets in a protest march.
Activists plan to meet on Tuesday, June 2, at 6 p.m. in the Staples parking lot in front of the Yuma Police Department.
In a video circulating social media, Derek Chauvin, a white former police officer from Minneapolis, is seen kneeling on Floyd's neck for nearly nine minutes as he was heard saying, "I can't breathe."
Floyd's killing is one of the most recent and public deaths tied to police officers, but organizers, also point out the killings of Ahmaud Arbery and Brianna Taylor. All they want if for their voices to be heard and for justice to be served.
One of the organizers tells News 11's Carmen Valencia, they will start walking across from the Yuma Police Department (YPD), and from there, residents will make their way downtown and end in front of the Yuma County Superior Court-Yuma Courthouse.
Towards the end of the march, citizens will light a candlelight vigil to honor Floyd. Red roses and candles were handed out as everyone took a knee.
“I’m here at the forefront battling one of the biggest viruses that we have here in America - racism." said Alex Osuna, a Local Artist and Father.
Osuna with dozens of other yelled out the names of the black men and women who've been killed with justice yet to be served. “It's definitely not just about Floyd, what about Trevon Martin, Tamara Rice, Briana Taylor, Jordan Stevens in Yuma," said Osuna.
He tells News 11 Floyd's death is just the tip of the iceberg. That Tuesday's march is love for all and to end racism for all. “I don’t want my son to be my age and that he has to talk to his son about how he’s gotta watch out when being around the police. That you have to act a certain way or be a certain way," said Osuna.
Osuna vows to stand tall for his and take a stand against the injustices lives in the country.
“We shouldn’t be judged for our the color of our skin," said 9-year-old Alex Osuna, Alex's first born.
His father said he does not want a world where his son has to question if it it's safe to go outside. “Yes, Because officers are killing a lot of people," said Alex's son.
People on social media, particularly Instagram, have flooded the site with black squares as part of #blackouttuesday. People all over the world continue to show solidarity with the black community and protests over racial injustice.
