<\/p>\n
More than 100 locals gathered about noon Tuesday at Mancos Boyle Park to memorialize the life of George Floyd and to protest systemic racism.<\/p>\n
The peaceful prayer vigil was hosted by the Mancos United Methodist Church, with Pastor Craig Paschal presiding over the event. He noted that Floyd\u2019s funeral was happening in Houston that very same day, and that it was important in this \u201cpivotal time\u201d to stand in solidarity with his family, friends and the African American community.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re going to be rooted in that grace, compassion, peace and nonviolence,\u201d Paschal said. \u201cAnd that\u2019s why we\u2019re here today.\u201d<\/p>\n
Participants came wearing masks and coats to protect against the chilly wind. The event lasted about 20 minutes, and included a prayer for Floyd and a short call-and-response period, with shouts of \u201cSay his name!\u201d to responses of \u201cGeorge Floyd.\u201d<\/p>\n
Floyd, a black man in police custody, died May 25 after Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin knelt on his neck for several minutes, despite Floyd\u2019s pleas for air.<\/p>\n
Paschal also gave attendees some food for thought, as did Desiree Dainty-Guilfoyle, a rising high school junior who spoke about what Floyd\u2019s death meant to her.<\/p>\n
Dainty-Guilfoyle said Floyd\u2019s death was tragic, but that with tragedy came an opportunity for change. On her end, it has been difficult to be the only female African American student in her school, she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was really, really hard to go to school every day,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
She said she feels lucky not to have faced extreme racism like death threats, but said that she still has faced bullying and hardship.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m different because of my color, but that doesn\u2019t mean I\u2019m different because of my soul,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Paschal then led the crowd into a moment of silence that was 8 minutes and 46 seconds long \u2014 the length of time Chauvin knelt on Floyd\u2019s neck. Some participants sat or knelt, while others lay face-down on the ground in the position Floyd had been in on May 25.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re kneeling today and standing today, acknowledging that pain, acknowledging the systemic racism in our country,\u201d Paschal said after the prayer concluded. \u201cAnd we\u2019re standing with the hope that this can be a moment that we change.\u201d<\/p>\n