ST. CLOUD — Hundreds of people came out to a memorial at Lake George Friday night for George Floyd, a black man who died after he was pinned to the ground by a white police officer with his knee on Floyd's neck.
Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, who knelt on 46-year-old Floyd, was arrested Friday and is facing third-degree murder and manslaughter charges.
A crowd broke off after the memorial and held a peaceful demonstration and walk through downtown St. Cloud.
The memorial, which was held 5-7 p.m., was organized by local group UniteCloud. The group asked members of the community to bring flowers, which will be brought to the memorial spot in Minneapolis for Floyd.
People were asked to maintain social distance as they dropped off flowers. Many gathered in the grass, some with signs, for the duration of the memorial.
Zurya Anjum, chair of UniteCloud, said the organization wanted to emphasize a peaceful way to come together.
"I think the turnout has been tremendous," Anjum said.
Allyson Hogan, who attended the memorial, said she was horrified by the video of Floyd's death, and she wanted to do something, even if it did not feel like much.
At one point during the memorial, Anjum got up and thanked the crowd for coming out.
There was no program planned because the event was geared toward people dropping off flowers.
By 7 p.m., a group of people who had gathered in front of the pavilion at Lake George began chanting.
The memorial event ended, and a group broke off for a walking demonstration downtown. Drivers honked or waved as the group passed, which stopped to pause in front of the Stearns County Courthouse.
After heading back to Lake George, the group knelt in silence for Floyd and called out minutes as they passed.
A person leading the group said the demonstration was to grieve together, but nothing would change until white counterparts understand and use their privilege to help.
People began to disperse around 8 p.m., and the person speaking urged everyone that how they left was as important as how they came.
Clairissa Baker is the public safety watchdog reporter for the St. Cloud Times. Reach her at 320-255-8740 or cmbaker@stcloudtimes.com. Follow her on Twitter @ClairissaBaker.
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