Community Corner
Protesters Fill Astoria Park For George Floyd Vigil
A crowd filled Astoria Park on Monday for a vigil in honor of George Floyd, the man killed last week at the hands of Minnesota police.
ASTORIA, QUEENS — Chants of "black lives matter" and the hymn "Blessed Assurance" filled the air as the sun set Monday on Astoria Park, where a crowd came together for a vigil in honor of George Floyd, who was killed last week at the hands of Minnesota police.
Protesters filled Shore Boulevard for nearly nine minutes of silence, representing the amount of time Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin knelt on Floyd's neck as he repeatedly told police he couldn't breathe.
Speakers discussed their experiences with police brutality and racial profiling and addressed non-black attendees on how to best be an ally to the Black Lives Matter movement. Broadway singer Nattalyee Randall sang the hymn "Blessed Assurance."
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The crowd left candles, signs and flowers to form a makeshift memorial shrine for Floyd at Astoria Park's World War I memorial, inscribed with the message: "Greater love hath no man than this that / A man lay down his life for his friend."
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I was at a peaceful #protest in #AstoriaPark and it brought tears to my eyes. I was able to sing the hymn #BlessedAssurance for the crowd! #nyc #nycprotest #NoMoreRiots #NoMoreLooting #NOMOREVIOLENCE #BLM #BlackLivesMatter ...can the media show more of this? pic.twitter.com/A7KQufcJeV
— Nattalyee™ (@Nattalyee) June 2, 2020
Some pictures from the vigil I went to today held for George Floyd in Astoria, Queens. pic.twitter.com/o87Kyv2QgY
— rose | BLACK LIVES MATTER (@riseofanikin) June 2, 2020
Peaceful vigil and protest in Astoria Park. pic.twitter.com/VWHAAHRvOe
— Megan Burns (@MEGANaburns) June 2, 2020
Tonight’s peaceful vigil in Astoria. pic.twitter.com/FUiD2WYnBX
— callmebymyshame (@trevorshowvan) June 2, 2020
There were no arrests at the vigil, according to the NYPD's 114th Precinct, which is based in Astoria.
Hundreds turned out tonight at Astoria Park and held a peaceful vigil in honor of #GeorgeFloyd. No arrests. No violence. #ThankYou #Astoria #AstoriaPark pic.twitter.com/nWTWU84Qem
— NYPD 114th Precinct (@NYPD114Pct) June 2, 2020
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