George Floyd: Watertown Vigil In Solidarity for Justice

June 2, 2020

Today’s Watertown, MA, vigil wasn’t heralded on CNN or Fox News but it happened where it needs it most, to wake up white citizens in  every day places like Watertown, MA, all over the  country. It was sparked by what we saw on the gut wrenching video of George Floyd being murdered by a police officer in Minneapolis last week.

35,954 people, not counting children, live in the 4.2 square miles of the city  eight miles from Boston.

This message showed up on my neighborhood list serv.

The vigil tonight will be held on "The Delta," the green space in the middle of Watertown Square. If many people come, we may spread out to the street corners.

Word spread. So did the crowd.

An inter-generational swath of them showed up at 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM to fill "The Delta," the grassy area in the middle of Watertown Square, the nexus of the city, and spill onto every adjacent sidewalks and street corner. I wouldn’t describe Watertown as a hotbed of activism. Tonight it was a city with a conscience. We held hands with small towns across the land.

The video showing George Floyd's murder was a defibrillator. It shocked us into taking a step to address racial bias and institutional injustice against people of color. What began as a visceral reaction to gross inhumanity has to continue with pressure to change culture across the board.

For me, I confronted my own conscience.I have always voted for justice. This was a moment to stand up for it. We joined hands with everyday people in Paris, London, Amsterdam, Syria, New Zealand and hundreds other places around the globe, revulsed from watching the video of a black man murdered in broad daylight by a white police officer.

The white people here might fear that the police might ticket us for speeding. Black men and women fear that police might ticket them because of their color. White privilege is hard to acknowledge. I haven't thought much about it because I don't have to. I understand it better today.

The Watertown Police Department  just issued this document describing guidelines for "use of force."

And this: "On behalf of the WPD Chief Lawn would like to thank all who attended the peaceful vigil last night. Chief Lawn attended & was impressed by the over 500 people . We are proud of Watertown and our community’s commitment to advocate for social justice. Thank You!!!" @watertowngov

Watertown's citizens read the tweet. A thank you from the Chief is good. I have had no personal experience to the contrary but Watertown's adherence to live up to the "use of force" guidelines will be essential. They will certainly be held to the guidelines they stand for.

The governor of Minnesota said, "We have only one chance to get it right."

The hard work has begun.

This story in the Huffington Post helps me figure out ways to keep it going.

People walked into Watertown Square from every quarter in the city. From 5:30 PM until 6:30 PM, the area swelled with people who needed to stand up for justice...

Three generations...

SAY THEIR NAMES...every sidewalk and median strips was occupied by protesters bearing homemade messages with messages they wanted to express

 
At every traffic light change, drivers of passenger cars, UPS and Postal Service trucks and 18-wheelers leaned in their car horns.


High school kids made very specific signs...

 
.

Everyone wearing masks. Social distancing observed better in some groups than others.

 
Critical: We need to take action with votes and voices.

Protesters raise signs, drivers lean on horns to demonstrate support

 

What will this boy remember about this? How has his mom explained it? The governor of Minnesota said, "We only have one chance to get this right."

Scores of home made signs...

to send a message to the political system and to each other.

At 6:20 PM, the entire square suddenly became quiet. I look around. Everyone is kneeling.

Everyone is kneeling. I had no idea this was in the plan. No one utters a word. Everyone is processing why they are here, what the moment calls for.

We are aware of the momentous disquiet across the land, that we are part of a movement for change. It's up to us to do more than kneel.

 

The hard work begins now. How will parents talk to their kids about this? What kind of conversations will begin between the teenagers present? What steps do I take?

This story in the Huffington Post helped me figure out where to start. This post is a start.

6:35 PM...heading home. It is up to me and everyone in this crowd to put our shoulders to the wheels of justice.

Photos by Paul A. Tamburello, Jr.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2G8j2TxTXEA

Watertown Square, all ages vigil gathers

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7TJ0qNXp0s8&list=TLPQMDYwNjIwMjC1VjDgTqGOrg&index=1

Crowd stand in solidarity, most holding home made signs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDHvnayUwkQ

Every corner filling up with over 500 people standing for justice

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dpNj-iiHKBI

6:21 PM

One minute later, a powerful 8 minutes and 46 seconds of silence, the time frame a Minneapolis policeman kept his knee on the throat of George Floyd, killing him.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=liQPu_oSSI8

Kneeling at 6:22 PM

 

 

Comments

[Jeff]

In the pictures presented, not seeing many people of color, yet this is the racial group that claims grievance. Projected population statistics for Watertown, MA is 36,000 of which 2% are black. 700 Black residents in Watertown. No murders in Watertown, police or otherwise. Cannot find any statistic on police brutality or complaint in Watertown. Found one recent shooting statistic of a Waltham man being investigated. Yet there in the Square, white residents stand in protest “ to address racial bias and institutional injustice against people of color.” America had that moment solidarity, for 24 hours after the video of George Floyd’s killing by a police officer went viral. The entire country, all races, all political persuasions, condemned and demanded justice. Almost immediately Federal resources were dispatched to Milwaukee to assist the investigation. The State assumed the case from the county. Derek Chauvin was charged and then the charge was elevated. The other 3 police officers at the murder scene were arrested and charged. Floyd’s death was horrific. Those responsible are facing justice. The system is working. So why are we here among all this protesting, looting, rioting, arson, and mayhem? Why do white’s practice group humiliation? Why should I feel guilty? Why should I be made to take a knee in sublimation to another person? That quilt and sublimination is not going to solicit a kumbaya moment. In fact, it will solicit just the opposite and further delay solving the racial divide. When two groups come to the table in peace and harmony, you get compromise and justice. When one group comes in subjugation, you get hegemony. As for the Black grievance of police brutality and their presumed negativity against them, let us apply logic and reasoning. Police will be where crime is being committed. Much of that crime is in black neighborhoods. That being the case, police/black confrontations will occur. If you do not respect police when confronted, then situation elevation happens. This issue is solved by elevating Blacks and all minorities up to partake in the economic system. When you have skin in the game, you are less likely to destroy it and more likely to protect it. Look at yourselves, all you 35,300 white folks in Watertown. Every police department, offices of local, county, city, state, and federal departments have been diversified. A Black President served two terms. America does not have systemic racism for if it did, four cops would not be charged in George Floyd’s murder. Criminal Justice Reform was passed which effects mostly the Black community. Opportunity zones have been established in poor minority neighborhoods. HBCU was adopted that benefits Black colleges and universities. And as for BLM signs I see there in the Square, this is the group that shouted, “what do we want? DEAD COPS! When do we want it? NOW!”; “Pigs in a blanket, fry ‘em like bacon.” Are you serious? This is the group we are supposed to sit at the table with. No way Jose. This is the group I will work to defeat.

[Gerard McMahon]

PT,
Thank You for sharing! I had no idea that this event had taken place. I am glad Watertown stood up!!

[Katherine Jones]

Paul,

Outstanding - I cried when I read this part because you are right, we needed a shock, sadly, to get up and do something:

"The video showing George Floyd's murder was a defibrillator. It shocked us into taking a step to address racial bias and institutional injustice against people of color. What began as a visceral reaction to gross inhumanity has to continue with pressure to change culture across the board.
I haven't thought much about it because I don't have to. I understand it better today. "

[Mishy Lesser]

Wonderful, Paul. Another testament to how big the protest was: we didn’t see one another there. 🙌🏽💜🙌🏽

[Susan M Bennett]

Thanks Paul- all discussions that bring attention to justice are worthwhile and important.

[Paul A. Tamburello, Jr. aka pt at large]

Jeff, you've researched the numbers and looked at the issue carefully.
To me, the signs saying “what do we want? DEAD COPS! When do we want it? NOW!” is repulsive and dangerous and does not represent the spirit of the protest in Watertown or anywhere else.
This is a group I would work to defeat too.

[Jeff]

Paul may I suggest "White Guilt" by Shelby Steele.

[Paul A. Tamburello, Jr. aka pt at large]

Jeff, this is a description of Steele's book on Amazon.
"In 1955 the killers of Emmett Till, a black Mississippi youth, were acquitted because they were white. Forty years later, despite the strong DNA evidence against him, accused murderer O. J. Simpson went free after his attorney portrayed him as a victim of racism. The age of white supremacy has given way to an age of white guiltand neither has been good for African Americans.

Through articulate analysis and engrossing recollections, acclaimed race relations scholar Shelby Steele sounds a powerful call for a new culture of personal responsibility."

[Paul A. Tamburello, Jr. aka pt at large]

And this is a May 2006 interview with Mr. Steele.
https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5385701

[Jeff]

Yes Paul, responsibility that Blacks should assume and wean themselves from "what government can do for me". Democrat whites are claiming that moral authority thus ensuring Blacks be a dependent class. Racism is and will always be endemic in man but it is not endemic in American society. No Black today can claim the horrific prosecution prior to the Civil Rights Act. Every Black today has opportunity and freedom. Relinquishing them and all minorities to victimhood will ensure they remain depressed in the economic structure.

[Jeff Picolli]

Jeff comment June 9, 2020
You’re an educated man Paul and I know you love this country. Do not fall for the mob’s demand. Your better than that and you know that America is not systemically racist.

My post on Facebook this morning.

Do you believe that America is systemically racist? That would mean the entire American experiment is racist, all economic, political, and social aspects. I've been around 78 years. Did not have a cloistered existence. Engaged in the social, educational, economic, and military aspects of the American experiment. Never encountered systemic racism. No person I engaged with, no friend, no family member, no co-worker, no military brother, were, to my knowledge, racist. You would think that after 78 years, engaging in all aspects of the American experiment, and engaging with all racial members of that experiment, I would come upon systemic racism. Never happened. Has it happened to you? Then I look at the American experiment and see immigrants wanting to be members. Are they seeking to be racist? I look again at the American experiment and I see very wealthy Black athletes. I see a Black middle class. I see Black colleges and universities. I see a Black President elected. I see Black members of police departments and elected leaders. If American society was systemically racist, none of what I referenced would be true. So again, we, the American loving citizens, are being hoaxed. We are made to believe what is not true. We are being propagandized. And for what purpose is this hoax being perpetrated? My guess is for power. The American experiment mandates that power emanates from the people who en mass, through the electoral process, chose representatives to govern them. Not rule them. To govern them. For in the American experiment, the power to rule remains with the people. This "systemic racist" movement, this Black Lives Matter movement, is meant to usurp that 233 year experiment. By eliminating the pillars of a civilized society, the mob will rule and the mob will decide. Look, your witnessing it before you. As in all things of nature, nothing is new. Nothing is created for their was only one creation and one Creator. Thus history, a record of nature of which man is a part, is important at this time. Mob rule was tried. Mob rule overtook a noble attempt at institutionalizing democratic reform. Just at the moment of our Republic, a mob overtook French institutions. The French Revolution, 1789-1799 caused mass chaos and ended in the military takeover by Napoleon. Is this what he are presently looking at? Is this what we want to do? We should want to keep control of our institutions that have served us for 233 years? Better start thinking of that before you submit to taking a knee; the first step in relinquishing control to the mob.

[Jeff Piccoli]

June 8, 2020
Jeff Piccoli sends video of Candace Owens take on the death of George Floyd
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JtPfoEvNJ74

[Paul A. Tamburello, Jr. aka pt at large]

I dug in to learn about George Floyd's alleged criminal history asserted by Candace Owens. https://www.snopes.com/news/2020/06/12/george-floyd-criminal-record/

Reading it affirms, at least to me, the deep complexity of how race pervades reporting from liberal and conservative point of view. I have no reason to believe that snopes.com is 'fake news', you can decide for yourself.