What seemed like an endless stream of vehicles circled through the Garden of Reflection in Lower Makefield Thursday evening for a car procession vigil that last two hours.
The Enough Is Enough : We Are Done Dying – Bucks County Vigil was put together by the NAACP of Bucks County, The Peace Center, Rise Up Doylestown, and the Network of Victim Assistance. In attendance were Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick, State Sen. Steve Santarsiero, State Rep. Wendi Thomas, State Rep. Perry Warren, Bucks County Commissioner Bob Harvie, several county row officers, members of the Newtown Township and Middletown Township Board of Supervisors, and a number of other supporters.
Pastor Stephanie Templin Ashford, of Thompson Memorial Presbyterian Church in Solebury Township, and Rabbi Aaron Gaber, of Congregation Brothers of Israel in Newtown Township, led the vigil with prayers.
The event practiced social distancing as cars, many with signs reading “Black Lives Matter” and “I can’t breathe,” paraded through the park. Many drivers beeped in support of those fighting racism. Along the memorial entryway, signs marking historic moments for black Americans and information on what people can fight to racism and injustice were displayed.
The group kneeled for just over eight minutes to mark the amount of time that a Minneapolis police officer put his weight on George Floyd last Monday. Floyd’s killing, which was recorded, sparked national outrage.
Organizers estimated that 10,000 people drove by for the vigil.
Credit: Tom Sofield/NewtownPANow.com
