March calls for justice after death of Floyd

Lorain community members marched in solidarity with police on May 31 in a peaceful protest in response to the death of George Floyd.

About 100 people gathered at the intersection of Oberlin Avenue and Meister Road, marching up Oberlin to Tower Boulevard and ending at Lighthouse Village Shopping Center.

Protesters carried signs and chanted “I can’t breathe,” and “black lives matter” in calling for justice for George Floyd and others.

Arriving at Lighthouse Village, protesters symbolically laid on the ground for nine minutes, in recognition of the time he was held down by now former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, unable to breathe.

Floyd, a 46-year-old Minnesota man, died on May 26 after officer Derek Chauvin held him down while handcuffed with his knee on top of his neck for eight minutes and 46 seconds despite pleading that he was unable to breathe.

Chauvin and three other officers on scene were fired one day later. Chauvin was arrested May 29 and is facing charges of third-degree murder and second degree homicide.

Floyd’s death has sparked outrage across the nation with protests and riots overtaking several cities.

Organizer Chayla Weaver of Lorain said she felt like she needed to do something to bring together the entire community to show that Lorain is strong.

“Obviously as we all know George Floyd was murdered by a police officer in Minnesota and so for me personally this isn’t anything new,” Weaver said. “But something about this specific case just didn’t sit well with me. And we have to do something as a community here.”