What began Saturday as a peaceful demonstration in downtown Statesboro with a single individual grew to about 30 citizens throughout the day demonstrating against the death of George Floyd.
Mid-day on Sunday, around 100 people gathered on the Georgia Southern campus to demonstrate. The largest demonstration in Statesboro occurred at 5 PM on the Bulloch County Courthouse lawn.
Bulloch county citizens Yvette McCall along with Statesboro Mayor Pro Temp Paulette Chavers and City Council member Shari Barr organized a two hour demonstration on the Bulloch County Courthouse lawn. The protest drew well over 100 peaceful demonstrators. They began with a few speeches and instructions then the crowd lined the streets around the courthouse with signs and peaceful chants.
At one point in the demonstration several of the demonstrators reenacted the senseless killing of George Floyd in the middle of the intersection. The demonstrators came into the streets and surrounded the reenactment which lasted nine minutes. This backed traffic up in the downtown area and created the most tense moments of the day. One driver drove into the crowd at the intersection, which caused an escalation of emotions which was quickly diffused by Statesboro Police Chief Mike Broadhead.
There was also a minor traffic accident, on East Main Street which caused a moment of confusion, but was also deescalated by Chief Broadhead.
Demonstration speakers included, Statesboro Mayor Pro Temp Paulette Chavers, Yvette McCall, Statesboro City Council member Shari Barr, Republican Candidate for Bulloch County Sheriff Keith Howard, Bulloch School Board member Glenerra Martin, Bulloch School Board member Maurice Hill, Pastor Donald Chavers, Francys Johnson, Candidate for Congress District 12 LIz Johnson, Stacy Smallwood and Mayor Jonathan McCollar. Each speaker gave passionate and personal stories of how they can relate to the unrest being felt around the world. They encouraged citizens to find ways to get involved and make a difference, to organize, register to vote and vote in upcoming elections.
Grice Connect live-streamed the event and will include the videos in entirety here.
