The nation commemorated the one year anniversary of George Floyd’s death Tuesday. In State College, the 3/20 Coalition gathered to honor the Floyd’s life with a vigil.
Around 80 community members gathered at Sydney Friedman Park to mark one year since a Minneapolis police officer murdered Floyd by kneeling on him for nearly 9 minutes. The event included a silent march, community conversations and a drum performance by the group Roots of Life.
The conversations allowed people to discuss their feelings about Floyd’s death and police brutality with others. Coalition co-chair Nanre Nafziger said the discussions made the vigil different from other 3/20 events. She believes it’s important to “hear the needs of the community.”
“We felt that there’s been a lot that’s happened over the year and we needed to collectively reflect," Nafziger said.
Coalition co-leader Tierra Williams said communities should continue to fight for social justice beyond the anniversary of Floyd’s death.
“The murder of George Floyd reignited in local consciousness the police murder of Osaze Osagie and the open wound of the quest for justice," she said.
