Hundreds of demonstrators participated in a vigil against police brutality at the Charles Houston Recreation Center in Old Town on June 4, 2020 (Staff photo by James Cullum)
Alexandria Mayor Justin Wilson speaks at a vigil against police brutality at the Charles Houston Recreation Center in Old Town on June 4, 2020. (Staff photo by James Cullum)
Ivory Bean speaking at a vigil against police brutality at the Charles Houston Recreation Center in Old Town on June 4, 2020. (Staff photo by James Cullum)
McArthur Myers speaks at a vigil against police brutality at the Charles Houston Recreation Center in Old Town on June 4, 2020. (Staff photo by James Cullum)
A vigil for victims of police brutality at Charles Houston Recreation Center on June 4, 2020. (Staff photo by James Cullum)
Hundreds of demonstrators participated in a vigil against police brutality at the Charles Houston Recreation Center in Old Town on June 4, 2020. (Staff photo by James Cullum)
Boyd Walker, the organizer of the vigil against police brutality at Charles Houston Recreation Center on June 4, 2020. (Staff photo by James Cullum)
A Black Lives Matter demonstration walks through Old Town to the George Washington National Masonic Memorial, June 4, 2020. (Staff photo by James Cullum)
A Black Lives Matter demonstration walks up King Street to the George Washington National Masonic Memorial in Old Town, June 4, 2020. (Staff photo by James Cullum)
Alexandria Police participate in a Black Lives Matter demonstration in Old Town, June 4, 2020. (Staff photo by James Cullum)
A Black Lives Matter demonstration at the George Washington National Masonic Memorial in Old Town, June 4, 2020. (Staff photo by James Cullum)
A Black Lives Matter protest on King Street in Old Town, Alexandria, on Friday, June 5, 2020. (Staff photo by James Cullum)
A Black Lives Matter demonstration on King Street in Old Town, Alexandria, on Friday, June 5, 2020. (Staff photo by James Cullum)
A Black Lives Matter protest on King Street in Old Town, Friday, June 5, 2020. (Staff photo by James Cullum)
A Black Lives Matter protest on King Street in Old Town on Friday, June 5, 2020. (Staff photo by James Cullum)
A Black Lives Matter protest at Market Square in Old Town, Alexandria, on Friday, June 5, 2020. (Staff photo by James Cullum)
A Black Lives Matter demonstration at Market Square in Old Town, Alexandria, on Friday, June 5, 2020. (Staff photo by James Cullum)
(Updated at 5 p.m.) Alexandrians came out in droves on Thursday and Friday in support of George Floyd and a number of African Americans who have died at the hands of the police.
Alexandria Mayor Justin Wilson said at a peaceful demonstration at Charles Houston Recreation Center that there needs to be a revolution within local government to pass legislation that helps residents of color.
“Sometimes in an argument someone says, the words, ‘Calm down,’ and then 100% of the time that does not work,” Wilson told the crowd. “Let me say to you tonight, do not calm down.”
Alexandria resident Ivory Bean took the stage at Charles Houston just as Police Chief Michael Brown was about to speak.
“You should not think you are above the law, and these things give you the power and give you the feeling that you’re above the law,” Bean said. “And when the law protects you in murdering people, then it just continues the cycle. So, until the law stops protecting these murderers, that’s when you won’t see us anymore. That’s how you will pacify us.”
Brown said that he and the officers in his department consider the Floyd killing a homicide, and that Alexandria police are aware that changes need to be made in the city.
“I will be listening,” Brown said. “I listened here. I’m not your enemy, and I understand I have to earn your respect and black lives do matter.”
“When we talk about Black Lives Matter, it’s not just political rhetoric,” Daniely said. “It has to do with how the minds work, to allocate housing, not just three houses in a new development, but to see that people who live in the community have an opportunity to stay there.”
Another vigil is planned tonight (Friday) at 7 p.m. at Tenants and Workers United in Arlandria.
Reporter James Cullum has spent nearly 20 years covering Northern Virginia. He began working with ALXnow in 2020, and has covered every story under the sun for the publication, from investigative stories to features and photo galleries. His work includes coverage of national and international situations, as well as from the White House, Capitol, Pentagon, Supreme Court and State Department. He's covered protests and riots throughout the U.S. (including the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol), in addition to earthquake-ridden Haiti, Western Sahara in North Africa and war-torn South Sudan. He has photographed presidents and other world leaders, celebrities and famous musicians, and excels under pressure.
