SPOTLIGHT
8 Minutes and 46 Seconds that Sparked a Rebellion Story by Samantha Cabeza | Photos & Edit by Jessica Perez Design by Itzel Montoya Kayla Jarvis, a 20-year-old African American woman, attended the Seattle protest with peaceful intentions and a cloth mask on her face. Jarvis was with her sister for six hours at the first protest on May 30, just a few hours before a police car on 5th and Pine Street in Seattle was set ablaze and the protest turned violent. “We went to peacefully protest police brutality and the inequality that black people face, and we did not want anything to do with the violence,” Jarvis says. “We took a break to use the bathroom, and then we heard three flash bangs.” Jarvis and her sister say that was the moment they decided to leave, knowing that it could probably turn violent. According to Jarvis, the whole intent of the siblings going to the demonstration was to protest George Floyd’s wrongful death and police brutality, not to spread hate. “I am a black woman in America, and I have the right to protest because of my rights, but I should not have had to,” Jarvis said. A black man sat in a blue SUV on the May 25 after allegedly buying cigarettes with a counterfeit $20 bill. About 17 minutes later, he laid motionless on the ground with an American police officer’s knee on his neck. George Floyd was the man who died, and his death has sparked rage across the nation. The eight minutes and 46 seconds that George Floyd spent with a knee on his neck, he cried out numerous times for help. Including the infamous words “I can’t breathe,” which are written on many protesters’ signs at demonstrations across the United States to denounce police violence. Protesting During a Pandemic The protests began in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, which according to the CDC, has caused thousands of deaths worldwide and appr38
SUMMER 2020
oximately 2 million infected. Because of the virus, people were told by local and federal government representatives to stay inside and quarantine until Gov. Jay Inslee’s stay-at-home phase plan concludes. Other regulations have included social distancing, with many people wearing protective face masks and not gather with more than a few people. Protesters have not let the pandemic or socially distancing stop them from demonstrating. Thousands of people have gathered together to protest, many of which wear face masks and gloves to minimize the risk of spreading the virus. The CDC released new guidelines a few days after the Minneapolis demonstrations to “adjust” to the large gatherings, requesting that all individuals who go to events with “shouting, chanting or singing” to wear face masks to reduce the spread of the virus. Many states and counties are reopening their doors, meaning restaurants, salons and stores are opening up again to the public. The concern of a significant second wave happening is feared by the CDC due to the substantial number of individuals attending the protests. Seattle had a total of 60,000 people march on June 13. Protestors have been seen hugging, holding hands and chanting together, which could cause the virus to spread if someone is infected. In an interview with WGBH News, Dr. Cassandra Pierre, an infectious disease specialist at Boston Medical Center and assistant professor at the Boston University School of Medicine, said that COVID-19 has taken a “disproportionate” toll on the black and brown communities, and right now is an appropriate time for the demonstrations. Pierre is an African American woman herself, and believes that people should be out demonstrating.