June 4, 2020 at 2:32 p.m.
Supporters of BLM organize peaceful demonstration in Rhinelander
Supporters of BLM organize peaceful demonstration in Rhinelander
Floyd, 46, died May 25 after a white Minneapolis police officer, Derek Chauvin, kept his knee on Floyd's neck for more than eight minutes. According to a viral video of the incident, Floyd pleaded that he could not breathe but Chauvin did not let up, holding Floyd to the pavement while three other officers appeared to take no action. The incident took place during an attempted arrest.
Chauvin is facing a second-degree murder charge while the other three officers have been charged with aiding and abetting second-degree murder.
Also, on Tuesday, the State of Minnesota filed a civil rights complaint against the Minneapolis Police Department to investigate charges of racism. The probe will look at the department's policies and practices going back a decade, according to published reports.
Floyd's death has provoked an intense reaction from coast to coast with large crowds gathering in cities both large and small to demand an end to systemic racism.
The Rhinelander demonstration came about after Matthew Edward suggested the idea on the Democratic Party of Oneida Facebook discussion page Sunday evening.
"My reaction was that I can't be the only one around that is wanting to show solidarity," Edward said. "It's an issue that seems to cross all lines; all political lines, all moral lines. Folks seem to be rallying around the fact and coming to the agreement that what's happening right now to black men and women in America is unjust. And so I figured there are others around that would want to do something."
Edward said he posted a message suggesting a solidarity demonstration and woke up Monday to find "there was a lot of activity on it."
He said he was pleased with the size of the turnout despite the lack of advance notice.
"I wouldn't say surprised, because that would suggest that I don't think that people around here believe in standing up and doing something about this," Edward said. "I was excited, I was pleased with the number of people who came."
He repeatedly stressed that while he had the initial idea and posted the message, others took the baton and ran with it.
"I don't really consider myself the organizer of the event. I know I put out the original post," Edward said. "My goal was to give people an avenue who might have been looking for a way to show solidarity."
Edward also noted that everyone involved strongly urged peace and calm, even if counter-protesters were to show up.
"Everyone that was posting about it very much stressed, 'hey, no violence, no vandalism, no reactions to counter-protests," Edward said. "Be there for the reason we're there and not get caught up in anything else."
Participants started gathering about 10 minutes before the event's scheduled start time of 6 p.m., with the majority carrying signs and wearing protective masks to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
More participants joined the ranks as the hour-long demonstration went on, punctuated by chants of "justice for George," and "black lives matter."
While the overwhelming majority of those present were white, other races were also well represented.
Heather Mikkelson, the mother of a mixed race child, held up a sign noting that racism and oppression "exists in this community too."
The sign included a list of things her child has heard at school and on the bus, such as a remark that he should go back to where he belongs.
"I have been following the Black Lives Matter movement for many years now, and found out about the protest through a friend on Facebook who has kind of watched my journey for the past week," Mikkelson said. "I have friends in Minneapolis, and I've seen the violence they have experienced. I have friends and family, including my son, who are actually going through this issue."
"Quite honestly, I'm surprised that it (the demonstration) is happening in Rhinelander, because of the racial injustice that my son himself has experienced," Mikkelson added. "So it's good to see people here coming together for a common cause."
She added that she hopes the demonstration, and the outrage over Floyd's death, will start a dialogue that results in real change.
"I hope that more people are able to talk about this and rather than saying 'All Lives Matter' without understanding that when people say that it is offensive, and actually trying to understand the reason behind it and look at the bigger picture," she said.
Raen Pleau, who self-identifies as mixed race, said she has experienced racism locally as well.
"I love my white side of my family, but I love my black side, too," Pleau said. "I'm pissed, that's all there is to it. I don't want to claim who I am because I am so pissed with what's going on. Yesterday, I literally cried all day because of this and because it feels like there is nothing that I can do to help. And that's why I'm here today."
Mikkelson said she moved to Rhinelander three years ago "for my dream job as a therapist."
"I'm supposed to hold it together right now to help other people," she said. "And I keep on preaching and telling people to take care of themselves and advocate for the voices, and I have to do the same."
She said she has concerns about how her advocacy might be perceived at her job.
"I was even asking my coworkers if it were OK to wear a Black Lives Matter T-shirt, is it OK for me to show my support for George Floyd and the justice he deserves," Mikkelson said.
Pleau had a response to those who say the protests, and the rioting that has took place in some cities, "offends them."
"Your silence offends me," she said. "And I'm really sorry that you have to experience that, I have the opposite end of the spectrum where it is all about social justice.
The demonstration was originally intended to last an hour, but at 7 p.m. the majority of the group peacefully marched from the courthouse to the police station. The group stayed there for about 10 minutes chanting and waving at passing cars. They then returned to the courthouse where they dispersed.
"I said, oh, people want to walk, so I went with them," Edward said.
Rhinelander Police chief Lloyd Gauthier said he was pleased the demonstration remained peaceful and everyone in the crowd was able to exercise their First Amendment rights, "which I fully support."
"From my perspective, I can tell you that we received no complaints," Gauthier said. "We were in the area to make sure that the event went off safely, both for those attending and for those driving by, and for the community and the business owners who also had a stake in making sure the demonstration and protest was peaceful."
Gauthier said he was "proud of the community" for the event remaining peaceful.
"The people put on an event that reflected peace, and also a statement that people were able to express their First Amendment rights," Gauthier said.
When asked for his opinion on what happened to Floyd as well as Monday's demonstration in Rhinelander, Oneida County Sheriff Grady Hartman sent the following statement:
"I am happy that yesterday's protest in Rhinelander was peaceful and that our citizens were able to come together and express their feelings about the death of George Floyd. Our condolences go out to the Floyd family."
"As a fellow law enforcement officer, I was not happy with the actions of the Minneapolis Police officer or those officers around him that did not step in to assist George Floyd and deescalate the situation. I cannot explain any of their actions as their actions are contrary to the training my deputies and I have received. That being said it is not for me to explain. Those are not the actions of myself or my deputies. They are not the actions of the majority of law enforcement officers across the United States who come to work every day to serve and protect the citizens of their community."
"Currently, law enforcement recruits receive 8 hours of cultural competence training. Law enforcement recruits also are required to have 60 college credits before recruit school and many of these degree programs require sociology, psychology and cultural diversity courses as part of the criminal justice curriculum."
Gauthier added that recruits also receive additional training on interacting with minorities during the ethics portion of their training. Until recently, he personally taught that portion of the Recruit Academy at Nicolet College, he said.
Edward noted that there "was certainly was an appetite for people to continue to demonstrate that they want to see change," and said he couldn't rule out holding another event at some point in the future.
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