Faith leaders speak out, kneel for accountability

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Faith leaders from across Jacksonville came together at the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office Headquarters off Bay Street to speak out against police brutality and the killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery.

The key message is that they want more accountability from the City of Jacksonville. They wanted to see the release of all body camera footage from officer-involved shootings, have a public declaration from the Sheriff’s Office that demands officers to refrain from excessive use of force, and for a new oversight board that has investigative and subpoena powers to deal with allegations of police misconduct.

Speakers included Rev. RL Gundy, Pastor Robert LeCount, Parvez Ahmed, Rev. Susan Rogers, Rabbi Jonathan Lubliner, and Rev. Phillip Baber.

After each speaker had a turn to talk about injustices in the community and how city leaders could do better, everyone knelt for eight minutes and 46 seconds. Those eight minutes and 46 seconds were the same amount of time a now former Minneapolis officer was seen on camera kneeling Floyd’s neck before he died. That former officer is now facing a charge of second-degree murder. The other three officers involved in Floyd’s death are facing aiding and abetting in second-degree murder.