One day after the guilty verdicts against Derek Chauvin came down in the murder of George Floyd, Connecticut activists took to the streets looking to address people in the suburbs.
Led by Hartford-area community organizer Cornell Lewis, they chanted, “We’re marching on white folks. They murdered George Floyd.’”
The demonstration began in Hartford in front of the Governor’s Residence. It continued on Route 44 -- where traffic was briefly stopped -- and ended up at West Hartford’s Bishops Corner.
Lewis wanted to make white people in the suburbs confront systemic racism, sending a message that it doesn’t end with the conviction of Chauvin.
“We want them to say what we’ve been saying -- that something is wrong,” Lewis said.
Ashley Cayo happened upon the protest and decided to participate.
“I was driving just when they got here and immediately I wanted to join in, so as soon as I could, I came and joined the protest,” Cayo said.
Cayo grew up near West Hartford. She said it took her moving on to college to come to grips with the subtle racism she endured there.
“Here, especially in a predominantly white town, they need to work on that.”
About a dozen people showed up to join in the walk -- some carried homemade riot shields, some Black Lives Matter flags. They’re expecting to go out again this weekend.
