George Floyd Protest Planned Monday In Doylestown

DOYLESTOWN, PA — A protest against the death of George Floyd will be held Monday in Doylestown. Organizers say the event will be peaceful. It is scheduled to start at 1 p.m.

"This event is to stand up against racism and show solidarity with the black community of this country," organizers said on a Facebook event page.

Protesters are planning to assemble at 10 N. Main St. Organizers are asking people to wear masks. At 5 p.m., an LGBTQ+ flag will be raised to initiate Pride Month, organizers said.

"This event is designed to show peaceful support of historically marginalized communities and we hope you join us in standing up," the event page explains.

Floyd, 46, died Monday after being handcuffed and pinned to the ground by Minneapolis Police Department officer Derek Chauvin, who pressed his knee on his neck for several minutes while three other officers looked on.

Video footage of the arrest, in which Floyd is heard saying "I can't breathe," spread widely online, and all four officers were fired. Chauvin was charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter on Friday.

His death has sparked protests nationwide, and in some cases the demonstrations have turned destructive with looting and fires. Center City Philadelphia was trashed for blocks after rioters on Saturday smashed windows and spray painted buildings in the area of Chestnut and Walnut streets.

Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney implemented a curfew in an attempt to stem the mayhem but looting continued in the city Sunday, and the PA National Guard was called in.

In a news conference Sunday, Wolf urged protesters to "honor democracy" while making their viewpoints heart. "Speak your mind, and speak it with peace," he said.

Bucks County Commissioner Bob Harvie said in an online town hall meeting on Monday that there had been "random acts of vandalism in a few areas in Bucks County" on Sunday, while there also were peaceful protests in Levittown and elsewhere.

"There were peaceful protests in cities and localities all across America," Harvie said. "Protesters kneeled with police officers, with elected officials, praying that our country can overcome these problems. And, if we work together, we can do that, just like we can work together to defeat this virus."