DETROIT (WXYZ) — Buildings in the city of Detroit lit up in purple Thursday evening in honor of George Floyd and other victims of violence and police brutality.
The memorial for Floyd was held earlier Thursday in Minneapolis. Floyd died on May 25 after Derek Chauvin, an ex-police officer with the Minneapolis Police Department, held his knee in Floyd's neck for nearly nine minutes. The incident was caught on camera by bystanders.
Detroit will honor Floyd, and the many others who lost their lives to violence and police brutality. The building in downtown Detroit will light up every night through June 9, the day of Floyd's funeral in Houston.
In addition to the buildings being lit, Councilmember Raquel Castañeda López is asking Detroiters to hold a silent vigil in front of their homes on Sunday, June 7 at 8 p.m.
“The idea to light the city and host a citywide vigil came to me in recognition of the deep pain and brokenness we are all feeling, especially our black community, in light of George Floyd’s murder,” Castañeda López said. “Too many black and brown lives have been lost to violence and police brutality, perpetuating the trauma these communities have experienced for generations."
