Peaceful Protest for George Floyd Happened in Lake Charles and other Parts of Louisiana Over the Weekend

Published June 1, 2020

Louisiana cities Lake Charles, Lafayette, and New Orleans held peaceful protests for George Floyd and against police brutality over the weekend.

On Sunday, May 31, 2020, an estimated 300 people gathered at the intersection of Broad Street and Enterprise Boulevard in Lake Charles to protest the death of George Floyd and against police brutality. The Lake Charles protest remained peaceful for 46-year-old Floyd who died during his arrest by Minneapolis Police on May 25, 2020.

Now former Minneapolis Officer Derek Chauvin has been arrested and charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter after multiple videos showed him kneeling on Floyd’s neck before he passed out and died. During the videos, George Floyd can be heard saying “I can’t breath” several times while Chauvin was kneeling on Floyd’s neck. Chauvin and other officers involved in the arrest were fired from the Minneapolis Police Department shortly after Floyd’s death.

Protest for Floyd and against police brutality also took place in Lafayette and New Orleans over the weekend. Both of those protests in Louisiana also remained peaceful, while violence, property damage, and destruction have occurred in some protests in other states.

Calcasieu Parish Police Jury President, Lake Charles Mayor, and the Governor of Louisiana Released the Following Statements Regarding the Death of George Floyd

Calcasieu Parish Police Jury President Tony Guillory and City of Lake Charles Mayor Nic Hunter issue joint statement regarding the death of George Floyd

“Lake Charles and Calcasieu Parish are comprised of a diversity of cultures. This makes us stronger, not weaker.
The disturbing death of George Floyd in Minnesota has caused pain across this nation. Southwest Louisiana is no exception. That pain is justified. We mourn Mr. Floyd’s death and pray for his family, the State of Minnesota, and our entire nation.
Around the nation and within Southwest Louisiana, there is a chorus of voices calling for equity. We hear those voices. Within our neighborhoods, we call for dialogue, unity, and fellowship to persevere during these trying times. Society has strides to make, and we want to be part of a solution, not a symptom of stagnation and ignorance.
Together, we can reinforce our resilience through our diverse and individual experiences and emerge from these struggles as a stronger community.”

Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards also issued a statement on the death of George Floyd

“Although I never knew George Floyd, I will never forget him or the fact that his death was both terribly wrong and completely and easily avoidable. No one who sees the video of his death can deny this, which is why it is important for all of us, regardless of the color of our skin, or ethnicity, to speak out against this great injustice. For too long, we have failed to fully address the lasting and insidious impacts that racism and racial inequality have had on our society. No one should fear violence or mistreatment because of the color of their skin. I share the outrage and my heart hurts along with everyone impacted by what is happening, but especially our African American brothers and sisters who throughout this difficult and heartbreaking week have had to again call into question their hope for justice and equality. Unfortunately, this hits home for Louisiana and many other communities across the country. As Dr. Martin Luther King has taught us, injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. Creating a better world for our children and grandchildren begins with each of us reflecting on the biases we hold, sometimes unconsciously, and how we can treat each other better. Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life.  We are all called by our Creator to be better: ‘Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God.’ I pray for God’s guidance and comfort for all of us.”

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