Hundreds gather at northeast Fresno church in solidarity with national protests

They held signs that read “Black Lives Matter” and “I Can’t Breathe.”

They talked about their concerns when people of color deal with law enforcement.

And Fresno protesters also made sure to keep their social distance from one another as hundreds gathered for a peaceful demonstration Friday night in northeast Fresno — amid the coronavirus pandemic, as well as in the aftermath of George Floyd’s death.

Floyd died on Monday at the hands of police officers in Minneapolis, sparking protests across the country.

“We’re here to show solidarity to mourn and to find ways to improve society to prevent this from happening,” said Karen Polnitz, a worship associate at the Unitarian Universalist Church and an organizer of the Fresno event.

Nearly 400 protesters stood on the Alluvial Avenue sidewalks stretching between Paula and Chestnut avenues, practicing social distancing by standing six feet apart and wearing masks.

Many passing drivers honked their car horns to show support.

Floyd, a black man, died while handcuffed and pleading that he could not breathe while a police officer knelt on his neck for approximately 9 minutes.

That officer, Derek Chauvin, was arrested Friday and charged with murder.

“I’m here for my husband and my son because I always have to echo the words to be safe when (my husband) leaves the house,” Polnitz said. “Not because of a car accident. But because someone might mistake his intentions just because of the color of his skin.”

Community member Chris Milton, who is the father of highly touted Georgia football signee Kendall Milton, said he feels more hope than usual after seeing the people who came out to support the protest.

“To see people out here from different ethnicities come out and say, ‘I don’t care; this is what I stand for,’” Milton said. “It’s emotionally touching.

“I want to tell people that I am hopeful this time. It feels different with how many non-black people are out there.”

Polnitz called to the crowd to come out to another protest by Black Lives Matter scheduled for 2 p.m. Sunday in front of Fresno City Hall.

She noted the gathering would be followed with a march to Fresno Police Department headquarters around 3 p.m

This story was originally published May 29, 2020 at 11:00 PM.