Approximately 1500 people gathered at the Oregon State Capitol on Saturday, June 13, for a rally and march to “end white silence.” The rally consisted of three hours of speeches made by a variety of community members. Following the rally, protestors marched through the streets of downtown Salem to City Hall. When the arrived, they silently took a knee in honor of George Floyd and others. Below is our photographic coverage of the event.
The Rally
Protestors gathered on the Capitol steps for a rally to “end white silence” on Saturday. They held signs, chanted and listened to speeches.
Speeches and Songs
Speeches were given by local, black community members, other allies and elected officials from the Oregon Legislature and the Salem City Council. The speeches lasted for over three hours and were followed by a musical performance by Rich McCloud.
The March
Following the speeches, protestors began to march. They marched from the Oregon Capitol to Salem City Hall and the police station.
Taking A Knee
After protestors arrived at City Hall, they gathered down by the Mirror Pond. They then silently took a knee for 8 minutes and 46 seconds in honor of George Floyd.
Law Enforcement
The visible police presence was limited at the event, as protest organizers requested that law enforcement refrain from “proactively interacting” with protestors. The officers were most visible along the march route.
