NAACP plans peaceful protests on Central and South Coasts Thursday
SANTA MARIA, Calif. - The NAACP is holding several protests on the Central and South Coasts Thursday. It follows more than a week of protests across the country for George Floyd, a black man killed by police in Minnesota.
Lawanda Lyons-Pruitt, president of the Santa Maria-Lompoc NAACP, is planning the protests in Santa Maria and Lompoc. She said they will honor Floyd, who died when a police officer knelt on his neck for almost nine minutes.
"We will have 8 minutes and 46 seconds of silence, where people can choose to take a knee, raise a fist or just remain silent," said Lyons-Pruitt.
The vast majority of protests on the central coast have remained peaceful.
Lyons-Pruitt working with police and the city to keep this protest peaceful as well.
"We should not lose sight of the fact that someone died," she said. "We should honor his memories respectfully and not by going out and looting."
After meeting at the Santa Maria city hall, several organizations are partnering with the NAACP to guide protesters on a march down Broadway and back, keeping on the sidewalk, following traffic signals and social distancing.
Afterwards, they can register to vote or sign up for conversations about bias and racism.
"You have the power to change things and that power is your voice," said Lyons-Pruitt. "It's your inalienable right to vote."
She says they will honor Floyd with candles and wreathes, items she just purchased last week for a different occasion, and had to purchase again this week.
"As I was in the store, the first thought that came to my mind was should I purchase more of these?" she said. "Is this going to continue or is this the moment when we're going to change the course of history?"
The NAACP will also be holding protests in Lompoc, San Luis Obispo and Ventura. All protesters must wear masks.
The protest in Santa Maria runs from 5:00 pm to 6:30 pm at City Hall.
The protest in Lompoc runs from 5:00 pm to 6:30 pm at North H and Central.
The protest in San Luis Obispo runs from 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm at the SLO County Courthouse.
The protest in Ventura starts at 1:00 pm at the Ventura County Government Center.
