An impromptu rally in support of George Floyd and the Black Lives Matter movement drew hundreds of protestors to Railroad Plaza in Lansdale on Tuesday night.
The rally was organized by Joshua Nielsen, of Lansdale, who posted to Facebook on Tuesday afternoon that he intended to hold a peaceful protest at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday. Nielson, who stood by himself in protest on Monday night, said that he was not affiliated with any group, and he had spoken to police prior to organizing Tuesday’s rally.
Lansdale Police Chief Michael Trail acknowledged the rally in a statement on Tuesday afternoon, adding that as long as the protest remained peaceful, protestors would have an ally in the Lansdale Borough Police Department.
Though scheduled for 6:30 p.m., the rally kicked off early as roughly two dozen protesters arrived to Railroad Plaza around 5 p.m. Trail arrived shortly after, greeting participants and stopping traffic so a woman could drop off water for the protestors. From there, the crowd grew to an estimated 600-700 protesters, according to borough officials.
The rally, which remained peaceful throughout the duration of the event, included group chants, calls for justice, calls for unity and more. Multiple protestors and officials, including Lansdale Mayor Garry Herbert, took turns on the loudspeaker to address the crowd and express their outrage at the death of George Floyd and ongoing racial injustice.
In what was easily the most haunting portion of the evening, protesters and police dropped to one knee in silence for 8 minutes and 46 seconds, representing the time that former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin had his knee on the neck of George Floyd.
The rally began to wind-down around 8:30 p.m., with Nielsen thanking the crowd for attending and asking them to disperse peacefully. By 9 p.m., the streets were again clear, and police confirmed there were no issues and no arrests were made.
Following the rally, Lansdale Borough Mayor Garry Herbert made the following statement:
“First, let me thank everyone who came out and peacefully shared their concerns and passions with the world. Your voices are powerful and your desire to affect change deeply appreciated. Also, thanks goes out to the officers that kneeled, prayed, and protected everyone while respecting their right to gather. Lansdale is a better place because of your service and dedication.
Our world is not as static as we think. The way things are today is not how they have to stay. It is a choice we must make; to stand still, or go forward. We are not born into the darkness of racism, bigotry, and hate, rather we are dragged into it due to the failings of the generations that came before. We cannot let their failings become our own. Every day we must choose to be the beacon of hope and progress that each new generation brings with it; for that is the path forward.
This path is not easy. In our way lies decades of opinions, rules, beliefs, and ideas that have woven a web of lies so thick it can blot out the sun if we let it. That choice is not one we can make anymore. As with all important shifts in our community and our culture, there comes a time when we must stop doing what is easy, and start doing what is right. If we make this choice together, as one united nation, we can shine a light so bright the darkness will retreat back to the hovel from which it came.
This is my hope for our community, for our country, and for all of our sons and daughters who will inherit the future we are building today. There will be faults and failings, but I am sure our kids will right our wrongs as we have righted the wrongs before us. But we must choose to show them the light now so that they don't walk through life believing that only darkness awaits.
Change is possible and together, we will achieve it."
A second rally is scheduled to take place at the same location on Sunday, June 7 at 1 p.m. Additionally, Trail confirmed that police are aware of a separate rally scheduled for June 20.
See also:
Peaceful Rally Planned Tonight In Lansdale In Support Of George Floyd, Black Lives Matter
Lansdale Police Chief: ‘It’s Time To End Idle Talk And Move Towards Solutions’
Mayoral Musings: Improving Lansdale Police Department Through Body Cameras
Lansdale Police Chief Issues Statement Condemning The Death Of George Floyd
Local Law Enforcement, School Board Issue Statements On Death Of George Floyd
