Chestertown held a peaceful vigil Sunday night at Wilmer Park to honor the life of George Floyd and to encourage everyone to join the fight against racism.
An opening prayer was given by Ms. Kita Sorrell. Social Action Committee for Racial Justice co-founder Paul La Tue, Kent County NAACP Bishop M. Tilghman, and Soul Force Politics founder Heather Mizeur also addressed the gathering of about 200 during the candlelight vigil. A closing prayer was given by James Christy.
The Spy and the community would like to thank Rani Gutting for helping to coordinate and emcee the vigil
“This vigil should not be a box you check. What happens tomorrow, next week, next month, next year? As a black man in this country I don’t have the power to dismantle racism…but white people do. If indeed you are an ally, start using that power to vote…” —Paul La Tue
Here are a few minutes from the evening.
This video is approximately two minutes in length
Kathleen James-Chakraborty says
My father Norman James campaigned for me to have an integrated education so that I could learn from Kent County’s outstanding and courageous African-American teachers and from classmates of all races for which I remain forever grateful. He would be appalled that we had not come further nearly forty-four years after I first set foot in Chestertown Elementary School and so am I.
Todd Hughes says
Any word on when the Vigil is going to be for the two Elderly white folks shot and killed by a Black guy while visiting their sons grave at the Delaware veterans cemetery on May 9th?
Steve Prentice says
The vigil for George Floyd happened because people who thought it was necessary planned it and publicized it. People showed up because this issue is important to them.
If you feel a vigil should take place for the tragic event you describe here, you should make it happen.