Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson has declared Friday George Floyd Remembrance Day. There will be a service mourning Floyd’s death in front of City Hall at 8 a.m., followed in the afternoon by a special City Council meeting to discuss police conduct at recent protests.
The mayor’s office is calling the morning event "Mourning at the Plaza: A Prayerful Remembrance of George Floyd." After prayers from an interfaith group and remarks from several speakers — including Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson — there will be an eight-minute, 46-second moment of silence at 8:46 a.m.
Johnson said those who attend are encouraged to kneel, stand or sit as they see fit and are able. The event is open to the public, but participants are asked to practice social distancing and wear face coverings.
Join us at Dallas City Hall tomorrow to honor the life of #GeorgeFloyd. pic.twitter.com/gwMxIqdzp3
— Office of Mayor Eric Johnson (@DallasMayor) June 4, 2020
The council's special meeting starts at 2 p.m. The public is invited to comment on the Dallas Police Department’s response to this week’s protests. More than 200 people have signed up to speak at the meeting, according to the mayor's office.
“Protests have overwhelmingly been peaceful, despite some violence and looting early on from small groups of people,” a statement from the mayor said. “The protesters have given voice to Dallas residents who are calling for change. We hear them."
Meanwhile, the Dallas Police department announced Thursday night that charges "at-large” would not be filed against the 600 demonstrators who were detained Monday on the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge. Police used zip ties and shuttled people in vehicles off the bridge. During the demonstration, police fired off smoke bombs at the crowd.
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