In a press release issued on May 21st, The National Urban League announced that together with its network of 91 affiliates around the nation will mobilizing Americans to honor the May 25 anniversary of George Floyd’s murder by spending nine minutes and 29 seconds – the duration of the deadly assault – to demand robust federal police reform legislation.
“The murder conviction of George Floyd’s killer offered the nation a glimmer of hope that we have reached a turning point in the movement to end racially-motivated police violence,” National Urban League President and CEO Marc H. Morial said. “The deaths of Daunte Wright, Ma’Khia Bryant, Andrew Brown, Jr., at the hands of police revealed how much work remains to make that hope a reality.”
The nine minutes, 29 seconds of activism begins at 3pm Eastern Time. Supporters are urged to flood social media with messages in support of the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, to send a message to their senators by texting JUSTICENOW to 52886 or call the Senate switchboard at 202-224-3121. Suggested hashtags for the mobilization are #RememberingGeorge and #
The National Urban League also will mark the anniversary with the debut of a new bimonthly Instagram Live series, #JusticeNow, centering social justice topics that deeply shape the lives of Black and brown communities. The series premieres at 6pm Eastern Time on Tuesday.
“A year ago, Americans rose up in protest after watching George Floyd’s life crushed away by a knee on his neck,” Morial said. “Today we ask Americans to channel that protest into power and demand the Senate at last take action to create lasting change.”
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