The Columbus/Bartholomew County Area NAACP Branch, the local African American Pastors Alliance and the Justice Resource Center of Columbus Indiana have organized a peaceful solidarity rally at noon Thursday. The gathering is to show support for families of African American victims in a string of recent high-profile cases that have unfolded across the nation.
And organizers also want to stand with Columbus Police Department and the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department leaders who promise that uses of force such a knee laid on the neck of a suspect never would be tolerated locally among officers and are never part of practices taught in training.
The rally, open to all, will begin with a sidewalk march from 11th and Washington streets to the City Hall plaza at Second and Washington streets. Organizers said they hope that people will be cognizant of social distancing.
The event is expected to include eight people either speaking or praying and is meant to focus attention on the recent deaths of African Americans George Floyd, Ahmaud Arberry, Breonna Taylor and other African Americans.
For more on this story, see Wednesday’s Republic.
