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Hi there, I am at the George Floyd memorial at Revolution Hall, where things are about to get underway. Maybe 150 people here
George Floyd would have been 47 years old today
George Floyd would have been 47 years old today
This is, hopefully, gonna be a real mellow tweet thread about speeches and performances
I'm wearing regular clothes instead of a flak vest and kakhis. My dog is here. It feels nice
Hanging out with @JFlorencePDX as the night gets underway
I'm wearing regular clothes instead of a flak vest and kakhis. My dog is here. It feels nice
Hanging out with @JFlorencePDX as the night gets underway
The event opens with a prayer from a Black opera singer whose name I mjssed. An acknowledgement that the road is hard but a hope that we will see victory and triumph. For a people united
He then sings a beautiful rendition of the Black National Anthem (sound on)
He then sings a beautiful rendition of the Black National Anthem (sound on)
The singer is working on an album and a documentary. You can learn more on IG: MrOnry
Cashapp is $emmanuel-heanrid
Cashapp is $emmanuel-heanrid
A Black activist speaks on the loss of George Floyd
"He was silenced. So we're not going to be silent! We're going to make a bunch of noise for him!"
The crowd screams "Happy Birthday George Floyd" on the count of 3
"He was silenced. So we're not going to be silent! We're going to make a bunch of noise for him!"
The crowd screams "Happy Birthday George Floyd" on the count of 3
A projection against Revolution Hall as the sky grows dark
Another activist steps forward and expresses outrage that Derick Chauvin is out on bail
They remind us that we've been out here for 138 days, which is a mind-boggling number
They remind us that we've been out here for 138 days, which is a mind-boggling number
A Black activist reminds us that George Floyd was a father. The speaker begins to cry as they remind us that his children will never see their father again
"It is so disturbing that one day when they get older they'll get online and look up their fathers death and see that"
"It is so disturbing that one day when they get older they'll get online and look up their fathers death and see that"
It's surely hard to find words for this moment. The tragedy of it, the thing that galvanized a nation. But George Floyd wasn't a catalyst or an event or a name in a history book, but a man. He had children and family and a future
The next speaker has trouble starting. "It's heavy out here" they say, and the crowd cheers encouragement
This space is too big for words. What else can we do but try?
The activist speaks: they say that we can be his voice and his legacy
This space is too big for words. What else can we do but try?
The activist speaks: they say that we can be his voice and his legacy
The crowd chants:
"No justice, no peace!"
"Get your knee off my neck!"
"No justice, no peace!"
"Get your knee off my neck!"
Next, a rapper named Jordan steps to the stage to perform
He reminds us of the importance of celebrating George Floyd's life--it doesn't just have to be sad
But we also have to hold people accountable
He does a quick freestyle while people deal with technical difficulties
He reminds us of the importance of celebrating George Floyd's life--it doesn't just have to be sad
But we also have to hold people accountable
He does a quick freestyle while people deal with technical difficulties
As the audio continues to glitch out, the rapper reminds us that the Red House still needs people for the ongoing anti-eviction afford down there
The audio finally starts working and holy shit it's worth the wait. Normally I'd post a clip but y'all are getting the whole thing and you should listen to it. I have to split it in two, here's part 1
Part 2:
Jordan talks about working at Beaverton Carfax when the George Floyd news hit. He was the only black guy working there and he describes listening to his white coworkers talking about how it wasn't a big deal. One of them had the audacity to wonder what the cop was going through
"Clayton, I don't give a fuck what the cop was going through!"
He quit in the next couple days
Follow this dude on IG at NorfJordan
Cashapp and Venmo is the same. Pay this man
He quit in the next couple days
Follow this dude on IG at NorfJordan
Cashapp and Venmo is the same. Pay this man
The crowd gathers around the memorial at Rev Hall
They sing happy birthday to George Floyd. Activists have distributes tea lights to the crowd
After the song, the crowd shouts "Justice For George" and blows the candles out
A Black activist takes the megaphone. Talks about how people have moved on. But George Floyd's family hasn't moved on. Breonna Taylor's family haven't been moved on
"Why aren't people still angry about this?" she asks. Her voice isn't angry, but deeply sad
"Why aren't people still angry about this?" she asks. Her voice isn't angry, but deeply sad
She talks about the need for community. How we have to help each other while we're alive
"You've got to remember that he was a PERSON. This is not a picture of a random black man! He was there for his community. His community will not forget about him"
"You've got to remember that he was a PERSON. This is not a picture of a random black man! He was there for his community. His community will not forget about him"
Breaking news: the cake is really good
There are gonna be more speeches after this cake break, including from a member of George Floyd's family. Stay tuned!
There are gonna be more speeches after this cake break, including from a member of George Floyd's family. Stay tuned!
The crowd has reconvened for the second half of George Floyd's birthday celebration
The next speaker is a 13-year-old activity named Kendall
They talk about the vilification of George Floyd in the immediate aftermath of his dearh
The next speaker is a 13-year-old activity named Kendall
They talk about the vilification of George Floyd in the immediate aftermath of his dearh
"His life was beautiful! But we downplayed that. We didn't celebrate enough."
"We need to do better for Black men! We WILL do better for Black men!"
"We need to do better for Black men! We WILL do better for Black men!"
My dumb ass is (probably) gonna misspell Jadai's name and there is no excuse for it: he's speaking now. Someone correct me in the comments
He talks about the legacy of America: from colonialization to slavery
He talks about the legacy of America: from colonialization to slavery
He talks about how low-income white indentured servants formed community with Black slaves at the start
How the rich landowners saw this as a threat
In 1705, the Virginia slave codes made all Black people slaves and set white indentured servants free
How the rich landowners saw this as a threat
In 1705, the Virginia slave codes made all Black people slaves and set white indentured servants free
How the slave patrols that began in this period eventually became the modern police system we suffer under today
"You have to know your history to know where you're at. This is the origin of why we're here today, on George Floyd's birthday. Where he should be today, 47 years old and alive and breathing
"But he's not. Because of where this country's from"
"But he's not. Because of where this country's from"
"do you think we can reform this?"
"No!" the crowd yes
He talks about how abolition is the only answer
"No!" the crowd yes
He talks about how abolition is the only answer
"it's gonna take us continuously coming out here. Putting pressure on it. Trying to topple it. Like the statues"
Cheers
"Fuck Bitchtopher Columbus! Fuck Abraham Lincoln! Fuck all those presidents! They all have blood on their hands"
Cheers
"Fuck Bitchtopher Columbus! Fuck Abraham Lincoln! Fuck all those presidents! They all have blood on their hands"
Jadai talks about the importance of mutual aid and community.
He thanks George Floyd for sparking a revolution
He thanks George Floyd for sparking a revolution
(it's Jahdi and his cashapp is: $JahdiBLM)
The next activist, Renae, steps forward
She talks about how George Floyd gives her hope for justice for her brother
Reminds us that this fight won't end when Biden gets into office. We have to keep going
She talks about how George Floyd gives her hope for justice for her brother
Reminds us that this fight won't end when Biden gets into office. We have to keep going
She talks about how her brother was murdered in Detroit at 17. How police treated it like "just another murder in the hood" and never even looked into it
How he made some bad friends to try to provide for their mom, who raised 6 kids on her own
How he made some bad friends to try to provide for their mom, who raised 6 kids on her own
She talks about the cycles that keep people stuck in poverty. How the help that exists keeps people trapped in these cycles, how that's part of the problem
She cries as she relates her brother's death. "He didn't have a chance. And that set the course of my life to this day"
She cries as she relates her brother's death. "He didn't have a chance. And that set the course of my life to this day"
She talks about the need for unity. "We can't allow anger to win. We can't turn on each other"
How George Floyd gave her hope for justice for her brother after 13 years
"13 years not knowing why. 13 years not hearing his voice"
How George Floyd gave her hope for justice for her brother after 13 years
"13 years not knowing why. 13 years not hearing his voice"
She thanks the young people who put this together. How inspired she is by the next generation
Editorial comment: me too
Editorial comment: me too
The crowd says her brother's name: Sherif White
Renae's instagram: Neva4gotten_sherif
She said her Cashapp but I missed it, it's hopefully on her IG sorry
She said her Cashapp but I missed it, it's hopefully on her IG sorry
Demetria Hester takes the stage!
She talks about the gaslighting: police claims that we somehow deserve this
"And there's nothing we have done to deserve any of the treatment we've gotten. And yet, we're here."
She talks about the gaslighting: police claims that we somehow deserve this
"And there's nothing we have done to deserve any of the treatment we've gotten. And yet, we're here."
Demetria leads the crowd in a chant of "Fuck the Police"
She reminds us that the police not only kill our community members, but tell us it's our fault. Talks about the wounds these things inflict on the community
She reminds us that the police not only kill our community members, but tell us it's our fault. Talks about the wounds these things inflict on the community
She leads a chant of George Floyd's name. Fists in the air
"This is why we fight. THIS is why we fight!"
She talks about how to heal. Justice. Reparations. Remaking the system into something that serves the people
"This is why we fight. THIS is why we fight!"
She talks about how to heal. Justice. Reparations. Remaking the system into something that serves the people
The last speaker of the night is George Floyd's cousin
He tells us that George Floyd was about two things: family and community
"There was never a time when he was called on and didn't step up. Never!"
He tells us that George Floyd was about two things: family and community
"There was never a time when he was called on and didn't step up. Never!"
He tells us George Floyd turnt it up at all times. Loved to have a good time. That we're gonna honor his memory by doing the same tonight
He expresses disappointment that more people aren't out here, but how good it feels to know how much his cousin matters to the people here
He expresses disappointment that more people aren't out here, but how good it feels to know how much his cousin matters to the people here
"Black Lives Matter is about community! We take care of our own!"
He encourages people to come out to the Red House: a safe place for Black and Indigenous people
He encourages people to come out to the Red House: a safe place for Black and Indigenous people
"Big Floyd was about the struggle! He didn't have no options, like all the Black men in America!"
He talks about the daily struggle. bout not having the option for fear
He talks about alliance: about how aligning oneself with a movement involves listening
He talks about the daily struggle. bout not having the option for fear
He talks about alliance: about how aligning oneself with a movement involves listening
He calls a young child named Nova to the stage. Asks everyone to stand up
The audience claps a beat while she sings "the Elmo song." It is about the cutest thing I've ever seen
The audience claps a beat while she sings "the Elmo song." It is about the cutest thing I've ever seen
Sound on for Elmo song
