A vigil in solidarity with Black Lives Matter (BLM) marches happening around the globe will take place today at Friendship Square in downtown Moscow, according to a Facebook event titled “The Palouse Demands Justice Vigil.”
The event, organized by Skyler Ting, will take place from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. This follows the May 31 Black Lives Matter demonstration in Pullman.
“It’s important for those of us living in rural communities to create direct paths of solidarity between the rural spaces we call home and the metropolitan areas that have more opportunities for organized revolt,” the events Facebook page says. “Help us imagine a world without police, without prisons, without bondage.”
Protests, demonstrations and vigils have erupted across the U.S. in response to the actions of a Minneapolis police officer charged with the death of George Floyd, a black man. The white officer, Derek Chauvin, was captured on video pressing his knee into Floyd’s neck for eight minutes and 46 seconds. Floyd could be heard pleading “I can’t breathe,” repeatedly before he eventually became unresponsive.
Pullman’s demonstration took place with the full support of the Pullman Police Department, who condemned Chauvin’s actions in a statement released Friday.
So far, 78 people have responded to Moscow’s planned vigil as “going” and 124 said they were “interested,” according to the event’s Facebook page.
Organizers of the vigil also encouraged protesters to be safe by wearing personal protective equipment, like masks, and maintaining a safe distance from others.
The Argonaut will continue to cover this story.
This article has been edited to reflect that this event is a vigil and is not mentioned on the Facebook page to be a protest.
Angela Palermo can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @apalermooo