The community comes together to pray and support the local family of George Floyd.
Floyd, an unarmed black man, died while in the custody of Minneapolis Police officers and his death has set off worldwide protests against police brutality and racism.
There was song, silence and sadness at Thursday evening’s community prayer vigil in Downtown Goldsboro.
George Floyd’s aunt, Mahalia Jones is a Goldsboro native and she currently resides in Kinston.
Jones spoke at Thursday evening’s prayer vigil, and she says it hurt so bad watching the moment where her nephew George cried out “I can’t breathe” in the bystander video showing his death.
Mahalia Jones also says she has faith change and something good is going to come from her nephew’s death.
Community organizer Bobby Jones called for the Goldsboro Police Department to place a moratorium on hiring white police officers until the department better reflects the city’s demographics.
Thursday’s prayer vigil included an eight minute, 46 second period of silence – the same amount of time a Minneapolis Police officer kept his knee on George Floyd’s neck leading to Floyd’s death.
Some cities have seen the demonstrations against George Floyd’s death turn violent and destructive.
However, the local protests in Goldsboro have remained overwhelmingly peacefully in the recent week.
