Community gathers at George Floyd mural to honor recent victims

LAFAYETTE, Ind. — On Wednesday, Paula Davis and several other community members gathered at the George Floyd mural in downtown Lafayette to pay tribute to his memory.

The group also took time to remember the victims of the mass shootings in Buffalo, New York, and Uvalde, Texas.

Wednesday marked the second-year anniversary of the murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer.

The mood at the tribute was somber and heavy. While the day was initially intended to remember Floyd, the deaths of the 19 children and two teachers shot at Robb Elementary in Uvalde, less than 24 hours before the tribute, weighed heavily on the minds of those who gathered.

Davis, the owner of the Blooms & Petals flower shop and the founder of the Good Samaritan Project, was the first to speak at the gathering.

“It’s important that you really find a solemn place inside of yourself, and to reflect on not just ‘tsk-tsk’ something unfortunate happened. This is not a ‘tsk-tsk,’ This is a tragedy beyond measures, and it breaks my heart,” said Davis.

“I’m going to go to a solemn place inside of myself. A place that is empathy and think about those families that are waking up today and having to wrestle with the fact that their children are gone. Those people that are still doing the burials from those ten folks that were massacred in the grocery store. The funerals are still going on! What it must be like for those families.”

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Prior to the event, Davis and her team at Blooms & Petals prepared a bouquet of flowers to honor Floyd, as well as a wreath for the victims of the mass shooting in Buffalo.

Little paper doves were placed all around the wreath – on each was the name of those who died in Buffalo. The wreath was made by two of Davis’ apprentices, twins Darian and Devan Williams.

“Pearl Young, Deacon Heyward Patterson, Celestine Chaney, Andre Mackneil, Ruth Whitfield, Katherine Massey, Roberta A. Drury, Geraldine Talley, were all innocent human beings who were senselessly slaughtered in the name of racism. They’re people they did not deserve this,” said Jenn Darby.

“We put this wreath together because we wanted something that will really encompass remembrance, in a way that feels respectful and dignified. Sometimes it’s hard to have something like this and feel kind of like, it’s just another symbol,” said Darian Williams.

“So that’s why the doves with all the names on it are so important because these were real people. It’s not just another picture of a pretty thing. These were real lives that none of us are going to be able to get to know now because they were taken away.”

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Several other members of the community shared their grief over Floyd's murder, while in police custody, and the Buffalo and Uvalde victims.

Unfortunately, due to the sudden timing of Tuesday’s shooting in Texas, Davis and her team were not able to prepare a wreath for the victims in Uvalde.

Luckily, Khalil Williams brought with him a dozen balloons that he planned to release to honor Tuesday’s victims.

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Before the tribute ended, Davis spoke to those who gathered one last time.

“This is a call to action. I mean, there’s going to be tears here. There’s going to be hugs and then tomorrow we're going to roll up our sleeves and we’re going to go to work. We’re writing some letters, we’re knocking on some doors because enough is enough. And without action our words are empty and I’m not just willing to say words. Tomorrow it’s on. This has got to stop.”

At the end of the event, Khalil handed out the balloons to those who gathered at the mural and the group prayed for those who lost their lives before releasing the balloons.

Noe Padilla is a reporter for the Journal & Courier. Email him at Npadilla@jconline.com and follow him on Twitter at 1NoePadilla.

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Community gathers at George Floyd mural to honor recent victims