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Black Lives Matter vigil set for Saturday in Nashua

By Adam Urquhart - Staff Writer | Jun 2, 2020

In this Sunday, May 31, 2020 photo, protesters form a human chain around Broad Street in front of the University of Georgia Arch in downtown Athens, Ga. The protest was held over the death of George Floyd, who died in police custody in Minneapolis on May 25, sparking demonstrations and riots around the country. (Joshua L. Jones/Athens Banner-Herald via AP)

NASHUA – Protests have erupted in cities across the United States following the death of George Floyd, and another is set to occur in Nashua this weekend.

Hundreds of protesters gathered in Manchester over the weekend, with a smaller group also appearing in front of Nashua city hall, each showing support for the Black Lives Matter movement amidst rising tensions over police brutality. A protest also popped up in Conway as well. 

Although former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin has been arrested after Floyd’s fatal encounter with police, demonstrations across the country are raging on. While some protests have resulted in roaring building fires and destruction of property, this weekend’s protest organized by the Greater Nashua Area Branch of the NAACP and Black Lives Matter Nashua does not invite such behavior. 

“This is 110 percent completely a peaceful vigil and I made it very clear, if your intentions are inherently violent, you are not welcome at this vigil,”said Jordan Thompson, racial justice organizier for the ACLU-NH. “There is going to be a police presence. I’m not looking towards the kind of standoff that we’ve seen in other communities because we have a very good relationship with our police department here. But the reality is there are outside forces, there are outside provocateurs that are coming into communities and attempting to incite, antagonize and instigate violence.”

The event is slated for 6 p.m. Saturday at Greeley Park. Protesters can begin gathering around 5:30 p.m. It will conclude before sundown.

Masks will be provided to those who need them and social distancing guidelines will be followed.

Thompson said the event is organized as a response to the growing need systemic change concerning police brutality and misconduct. 

“It’s been a response to the death of George Floyd, to the death of Breonna Taylor, to the death of Ahmaud Arbery but it’s so much bigger than that, sort of calling for justice for so many different groups that have been impacted by this violence,” Thompson said. 

An organizing session will be held Wednesday with community members, but as of right now there is a speaking panel scheduled. Thompson said he is working on getting Congresswoman Annie Kuster, Mayor Jim Donchess and Chief of Police Michael Carignan to attend. Thompson said he has confirmed that the chief will be there. 

The event will feature a program with speakers, a time in which victims of police brutality are honored, reading of names, a moment of silence as well as an opportunity to reflect. 

Thompson said people deserve to have their rage over Floyd’s death validated. However, he is hopeful that something sustainable, powerful and effective can come from channeling that rage and passion into meaningful change.

Thompson also understands that people are still living amidst a pandemic.

“There is certainly a risk involved, but I think the issue here is that for many black Americans you have to choose between potentially exposing yourself to COVID or remaining silent when you’re being shot down in the streets,” Thompson said. 

As of Monday afternoon, on the Facebook event page for the vigil, there were more than 400 people who responded that they are going to the event, with more than 1,000 people marking their interest in attending. 

Adam Urquhart may be contacted at 594-1206, or at aurquhart@nashuatelegraph.com.

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