A Vigil for Black Lives Lost to Police Brutality will be held at noon on Saturday, June 6, 2020. Co-organized by the Unitarian Universalist Church of Canton, the Canton United Methodist Church, and the North Country Poor People’s Campaign, the vigil will be held in the Village park in downtown Canton, where all are invited to participate peacefully and safely by utilizing masks and social distancing.
The event will begin with the ringing of the church bells for 9 minutes to solemnly honor the memory of George Floyd, who was held under the knee of a police officer for almost 9 minutes and died as a result. Black lives lost to police brutality will be honored, and a prayer tree collaboratively created.
As the Reverend William Barber, the co-chair of the National Poor People’s Campaign, has written, “If we take time to listen to this nation’s wounds, they tell us where to look for hope.”
Canton churches will continue to ring their church bells for 9 minutes every day at noon to raise awareness that Black Lives Matter and that we need to reform the systems of injustice that plague people of color in our nation. This offers all a time to reflect, meditate, and pray.
This short video highlights the ringing of the bells.
The beautiful and moving wall mural pictured above was created by Greta McLain, Xena Goldman and Cadex Herrera at the corner of 38th Street and Chicago Avenue South, the spot where Floyd was arrested.