George Floyd protests: Crowd gathers in Fairfield Saturday

A crowd marched in Fairfield and then gathered at Village Green Park in Fairfield today in protest after the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.

The group met at Fairfield Stadium and marched along Nilles Road to the park. Most took to their knees as others spoke, and the crowd was silent for more than eight minutes to recognize the amount of time a police officer’s knee was on Floyd’s neck.

One of the organizers, Maya Middlebrook, said everyone needs to receive the same treatment by police.

“We need to make sure that the systems we have that have been built to protect us are protecting all of us,” said Middlebrook, a 2017 Fairfield graduate. “We need to make sure the people who hold power within those positions, they are good people.”

Co organizer of Fairfield march, Maya Middlebrook, 21, a 2017 Fairfield grad @rickmccrabb @journalnews pic.twitter.com/Zpr39jOlCH
— Rick McCrabb (@rickmccrabb) June 6, 2020

“We’ve decided to bring the issues at hand into the places we call home,” Middlebrook posted to Instagram before the event. “Many of our neighbors are able to stay within their bubble while disregarding the many hardships and injustices Black people face everyday.”

View this post on Instagram

Time to walk the talk 💜 As you all know we are huge advocates for equality in all shapes and forms. We’ve decided to bring the issues at hand into the places we call home. Many of our neighbors are able to stay within their bubble while disregarding the many hardships and injustices Black people face everyday. We ask that you all come out and help us raise awareness while finding a way to connect and cause some change so the generation after us will not have to feel the pain we do. We want to make sure that we are all safe, respectful and most importantly RESPECTED. Hope to see you soon! #BlackLivesMatter #PullUpInPeace We UP! •Agenda // 2pm-2:30pm Meet at Fairfield Stadium, Feel feel to hydrate & participate in poster-making. 2:30pm March down Nilles Rd, Pass the Courthouse, into Village Green. Around 3pm- 9 minute kneel Demonstration & Closing Remarks •All money donations will be used for supplies first, any proceeds with be split between the Cincinnati Bail Out Fund, Justice for Breonna Taylor, & the Black Lives Matter Foundation ✊🏾

A post shared by @ mayalenae on Jun 4, 2020 at 6:19pm PDT

Multiple events happened throughout the week in Butler County, including a Tuesday night gathering in West Chester Twp. that drew protesters who had been in downtown Cincinnati earlier in the day, and two events on Wednesday in Hamilton and Middletown.

Organizers have protesters have spoken on a consistent theme: They say violence against black residents by police officers is at a breaking point, governments need to take specific actions to battle the problem and those police who commit violence need to be prosecuted.

PROTESTS COVERAGE
• Saturday, June 6 in Middletown: Story | Photos
• Wednesday, June 3 in Middletown: Story | Photos
• Wednesday, June 3 in Hamilton: Story | Photos
• Tuesday, June 2 in West Chester: Story | Photos
• Sunday, May 31 in Hamilton: Story | Photos

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About the Authors

Rick McCrabb

Ed Richter