26-05-2025
In Springfield, a vigil to remember George Floyd and to urge protection of eroding reforms
SPRINGFIELD – Five years ago, people took to the streets after a video of the killing of George Floyd at the hands of the Minneapolis Police went viral. Corporations, the justice system and others responded by instituting initiatives to improve racial equity.
But attendees at a vigil on Sunday said that movement is losing much of the momentum it gained as President Donald J. Trump removes diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives in government and education and encourages businesses to do the same.
'That moment that we had in 2020, we need that again,' said Bishop Talbert W. Swan II, president of the Greater Springfield NAACP and pastor of the Spring of Hope Church of God in Christ, at the vigil on Boston Road Sunday.
On the Sunday anniversary of Floyd's death, a crowd that including many Black churchgoers gathered to remember Floyd and push for new justice reforms while protecting the gains already made. The event was held outside the site of a proposed Target, which announced in January it was walking back key diversity and inclusion initiatives after Trump took office.
'We are coming up a number of challenges and we need some bold soldiers,' Swan said.
During the vigil, which included nine minutes and 29 seconds of prayer to remember the amount of time former police officer Derek Chauvin kneeled on Floyd's neck. Chauvin was later convicted and sentenced to more than 22 years in prison in the slaying.
Multiple pastors from across Springfield focused on how standing together brought power and change, even if overreaching use of force by law enforcement was impacting Black and brown communities more than others.
'If we stood together we could exact change that we couldn't do in our individual silos,' Swan said. 'I think that is what propelled the corporations to make the commitments they did, the Department of Justice to do the investigations they did.'
Swan and other faith leaders called for the community to rise up to protect health care, fight poverty and empower elected officials to stand with them and battle the 'wicked administration.'
'Those within the corporate structure who were more or less responding to the pressure have felt that pressure now released because they have an administration that now supports them doing business as usual,' Swan said. 'Once again, we have to show how this administration is not just affecting Black and brown communities, it is literally affecting communities across the spectrum.'
Along with speakers calling for justice, they also urged boldness and an acknowledgement of their history, which is being removed from the classrooms and museums.
Verleane Harris, an evangelist for Spring of Hope Church of God, pushed for economic equality and asked people to find ways to support, build and expand Black-owned businesses and Black financial institutions.
'We are at risk of losing our freedom,' she said. 'They are trying to erase us from history.'
During the event, one participant called out for the group to return for the opening of Target, which is to be located at the site of the former Eastfield Mall, to protest again if corporate managers do not return to earlier policies to support diversity, equity and inclusion.
Tracey Carpenter, of Springfield, said she feels the Black Lives Matter efforts gained so many social justice improvements due to a cross collaboration of people of different ages, races, genders and interests standing together.
'I feel like we are losing education and knowledge and that takes away empowerment,' she said.
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Read the original article on MassLive.
