It’s a different approach than ones we’ve seen and heard over the last week. Saturday morning’s protest at the intersection of Kingwood Drive and W. Lake Houston Parkway in Kingwood was silent.
“Sometimes silence does speak louder than words,” said organizer, Jay Theis.
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The protest was held at the intersection of Kingwood Drive and West Lake Houston Parkway in northeast Houston.
Dozens of people participated. They held up signs with a names of a various black men or women who were killed in the last five years by police. Among the long list of names was Houston native George Floyd.
“Being a black female and seeing that young man call for his mom, that tore me apart,” said Lillie Fontenot, regarding the video of Floyd’s final moments.
Others stood silent for the same cause.
“I’m just here to honor the memory of George Floyd and Eric Garner and all black men and women who died unjustly by police brutality,” said Daniel Martin.
Theis said as a White man he has no idea how people in the Black community are dealing with issues of race, police brutality and injustice. So he thought the protest would be a good first step to make his community more aware.
"One thing I think is very important here is White Americans because we often don’t understand what African Americans are going through,” Theis said. "We really need to spend some time listening to their experiences. And if we listen we will understand.” The silent protest went on from 9 a.m. until 10:30 a.m., and ended peacefully. "
Floyd, 46, a Houston native, grew up in the Third Ward and graduated from Jack Yates High School where he played football.
He died in Minneapolis police custody while being arrested Monday. Videos show an officer kneeling on Floyd’s neck, pinning him to the ground while he pleaded that he couldn’t breathe.
Demonstrations are being held across the country in the wake of his death.