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| Peaceful equality marches continue in Canton Township. Photo by Brea Crawford |
The marches to date have been peaceful and there have been no instances requiring police intervention, according to officials. In one recent march through Sunflower Subdivision, police officers joined the marchers to demonstrate their support for the cause of racial harmony.
Another march last week drew one of the largest crowds of participants so far and began at Heritage Park and continued down Heritage Way turning south onto Canton Center Road.
Marchers chanted slogans including, “Hands up, don't shoot,” and brandished signs bearing various slogans and reminders of those who had been victims of social injustice. This march, too, was in conjunction with the Canton Township Public Safety Department and officers were in attendance to provide security and support. When the marchers reached the police department headquarters, they silently knelt on one knee for 8 minutes and 46 seconds, in tribute to George Floyd who was killed in Minneapolis when a police officer forcibly knelt on his neck and throat as he struggled to breathe for that amount of time.
Canton officers knelt with the marchers.
Most of the marchers were wearing masks in accordance with the safety precautions necessary to prevent the COVID-19 virus from infecting others.
