People Gather In Winston-Salem In Wake Of Chauvin Conviction

Many people who spent last summer protesting in the streets after the death of George Floyd have started gathering again now that the police officer who killed him has been convicted of murder.

That includes a rally in Winston-Salem Wednesday.

Their signs read “Honk 4 Justice,” and many people passing the rally on Martin Luther King Jr. Drive did just that.

This gathering wasn't a celebration of the guilty verdict for former police officer Derek Chauvin. Nor was it a protest like those that occurred last summer. It was something different. A chance to reflect on the past year, and the changes — and challenges — posed by police violence in Black communities and systematic racism across the board.

Olivia Moore, 17, was among those in the crowd who also took part in last year's protests. She says work still needs to be done, but she's optimistic about the future.

“We have so many young people that have galvanized this movement and have led it," she says. "And that's so important because we know social media, we know how to share things, we know how to get people out and educated. And that's what you need to create change.”

Still, Moore says she's concerned about the return of gun violence that has occurred as COVID-19 restrictions have been lifted across much of the country.

Organizer Tony Ndege called the verdict a "wonderful milestone," but says much remains to be done to address poverty and inequality in Winston-Salem, including the East Winston area where the rally was held.

"It's been difficult — when COVID got worse during the winter — to keep some of the momentum, so we're just getting started again," he says.

About 30 people attended the rally.

Chauvin, a Minneapolis police officer, was convicted of murder and manslaughter in connection with Floyd's death after he restrained Floyd with a knee to his neck. 

The guilty verdict sparked some immediate demonstrations across the country, including Minneapolis. In Winston-Salem, the sites of last summer's major protests downtown were quiet Tuesday night, with many people out on Fourth, Main, and Liberty streets enjoying a comfortable spring evening.