‘We’re hurting.’ 60 cry out for George Floyd and their own at 2nd day of Biloxi protests
Dozens of men and women in Biloxi joined thousands across the United States on Sunday protesting the killing of George Floyd, an unarmed black man in Minneapolis.
Floyd was filmed yelling “I can’t breathe” as a Minneapolis police offer held his knee against his neck for nearly 8 minutes until he was unresponsive. Floyd died in police custody, according to media reports.
More than 60 people lined U.S. 90 with signs and bullhorns. They chanted “I can’t breathe” and “Black lives matter” as some drivers passing by honked their horns in solidarity. The Mississippi Rising Coalition, with the support of the Jackson County NAACP, helped organized the Sunday protest. This was the second protest at the Biloxi Lighthouse in two days.
“We’re hurting, the community is hurting. The black community nationwide is hurting,” Curley Clark, president of the Jackson County NAACP said. “We’re out here to demonstrate our hurt and our concern to make sure the entire Coast knows it affects everyone.”
Wayne Windham Jr. has a little brother and sister. He said he doesn’t understand why in 2020 he has to worry about himself, a young black man, and his entire family.
“I still have to worry about about being criminalized or attacked by the people who are supposed to protect me,” he said.
Rosie Stuart isn’t worried about herself. She wants a better future for her two black step sons and bi-racial daughter.
“Now that I have kids, I’m realizing I don’t want to raise them up in this type of society. I don’t want anyone to have to,” she said. “I don’t want it to be them one day.”
Today’s protest isn’t a first for Charles James McLean. He reached out to Mississippi Rising Coalition last year to protest the state flag. On Sunday, he was excited to see allies of all races, but said he wishes more black South Mississippians would come out to protest.
“Protesting isn’t dead,” Mclean said. “On this beach right here about 60 years ago we protested to have black people on this (Biloxi) beach right now.”
He said that the turnout made him proud of the Coast city he calls home.
“I love my hometown of Biloxi, you always have people who are gonna fight for you.”
This story was originally published May 31, 2020 at 8:34 PM.
