VIDEO & PHOTOS: Several hundred take part in peaceful walk in Lakewood in memory of George Floyd [UPDATED ALBUM]

Several hundred people attended and participated in a peaceful protest in Lakewood today demanding justice for George Floyd and an end to racial prejudice.

The protesters, who marched down Clifton Avenue chanting and waving anti-racism signs, were joined by Lakewood Mayor Ray Coles, Police Chief Greg Meyer, and Ocean County Prosecutor Brad Billhimer, as they made their voice heard and exercised their Constitutional right to freedom of speech and assembly.

Once arriving in the center of town, the large crowd, with many different backgrounds but bonded by a common cause, gathered together in Red Square where many had the opportunity to have their voices heard. The gathering lasted until just after 3pm when the crowd peacefully dispersed without incident.

Many businesses in the downtown area boarded up their storefronts before the protest took place, fearing that the violence that overtook other protests would visit Lakewood’s as well. However, today’s protesters were all extremely civil, protesting the plight of millions of African Americans, while continuing to respect life and property.

The Lakewood Police Department thanked protest attendees and the numerous organizations involved in today’s protest for the successful and meaningful event that took place in Lakewood Township today.

 

 

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48 COMMENTS

  1. Thank you to the protesters for conveying such a powerful message of hope and change through this peaceful protest. Thank you so much to Lakewood Township, the police force, and Michael Inselbach for playing their part in ensuring a safe protest. We all really appreciated the increased police presence.

  2. So I guess we are now allowed to have wedding with 200 people.

    Chas v’eshalom a funeral with 200 ppl.

    Or any other large gatherings now.

  3. Baruch hashem the real people that care showed up and not the trouble makers. Thank yo so much lpd for protecting us! Just like we understand that something inhumane was done to gorge floyd we also understand that it is just a few rotton police officers and our law enforcement agencies are there for our best interests! May hashem continue to protect us all!

  4. B”H, in the z’chus of R’ Shayaleh, it all stayed calm.
    Thx LPD, OCPO, Sherriff’s office and NAACP for helping organize a meaningful and peaceful event.

  5. Thank you to the Askanim who worked so hard with the minority community and protest leaders to ensure a peaceful rally. That is naturally a delicate process and was done with great siyata d’shamya.

    We often only express our voices when things go wrong, let us all thank them when things go right.

  6. Great, all the Lakewood fearmongers can now go back to their caves. Thank you mayor Cole for not giving in and violating the first amendment.

    • i also disagree that there is “systematic racism”. Yet there IS a lot of racism, even if its a small percentage, its an EVER PRESENT reality. I can tell you my own stories of seeing/hearing about black people mistreated, and i’m white/jewish. So its out there. And they feel it. So yes, there IS a powerful mssg

  7. This is so impressive! I only wish it had been held on a different day so I could have attended and brought my children to see this. I truly hope that this can be a turning point in tensions in our town.

  8. I won’t applaud a group of protesters for not looting. Like, congrats for not being horrible people I guess. Also, peaceful or not these protests are fomenting unnecessary racial hatred. What happened to Floyd was absolutely terrible, but was it proof of widespread, systemic racism towards black people? No. Let’s tackle the occasional issue of police brutality without tearing this country’s social fabric to shreds.

    • You should applaud them for standing up for injustice and against murder by cop, which they have every right to protest as American citizens. I would think that a Jew such as yourself would understand that very unfortunately people ARE still persecuted in America, whether you want to see it or choose to turn away, or you feel that anti-semitism is somehow different than being singled out for the color of your skin. Shame on you.

  9. Jews kneeling? Hopefully not to the picture of R. Yeshayala.

    Don’t they know the story of purim? ומרדכי לא יגרע ולא ישתחוה.

  10. What happened to “lack of social distancing is killing people? Why are the photographs of people closer together than 6 feet? Whyyyyyyyyy is this allowed and not a small funeral of a family member or loved one? Either lack social distancing kills or it doesn’t…Why can’t those in charge make up their minds? So what they mean is that it’s unsafe…unless there’s s/t they deem worthy, then for the moment it suddenly becomes safe…Can we please make up our minds, those who are trying to be helpful?! Please?

  11. How is Lakewood a “prime example of Rasicm”? as a few of the signs read. It’s statements like that that make them lose credibility.

  12. Tonight, all the mice are out protesting.
    “Why do we have to suffer just because you were scared of riots?? Take down those pictures of Rav Shaya!!”

  13. Let’s not forget that this whole rioting thing around the country is a bunch of people that were locked up for a few months and now letting out a lot of negative energy. This has nothing to do with Floyd. Floyd was a criminal who messed with another criminal-the Police officer and it ended with the cop killing him which is obviously murder but Floyd was no innocent guy. It’s time for everyone to go back to work and school and all those low lives insighting violence should be locked up. We all know that black lives matter just as much as white lives.

  14. “justice for Floyd”…. If there would have been justice, he’d still be in prison for breaking in to a pregnant woman’s home and pointing a gun at her stomach before robbing her.

    Make no mistake, the cop who murdered him should be punished to the full extent of the law. But Floyd being made a martyr is a joke. He had a nice rap sheet even besides the gunpoint home invasion. Making him appear as a saint is not helping the African American cause.

  15. So now we’re supposed to cheer and celebrate because shops weren’t looted. In exchange for our relief, we buy into the entire intersectional agenda hook line and sinker. America is the least racist country in history. There are some bad cops. We should deal with it. The BLM movement is anti Israel and advocates dismantling police departments. Let be careful who we ally with. Let’s be on the right side of history.

  16. Lakewood is not a prime example of racism!!! Do any of you listen to BOE meetings?? So much energy is invested in getting services etc, for the minority’s in lkwd, beyond what the majority receive, even if majority are paying the taxes. No racism in Lakewood. Equal opportunities for all!! So stop playing victim and stand proud that you live in lkwd!!

  17. BH I have raised my kids so far to know whom we could associate with and these people aren’t them.

    The whole BLM movement is SHEKER built on SHEKER and raised on SHEKER.

    First of all, these guys are NOWHERE to be seen NIGHTLY in Chicago and other inner cities where more blacks are killed BY OTHER BLACKS just about DAILY then what are killed by police, white police, in a year!

    Secondly, hands up was a lie. This goes back to the Ferguson, MO near STL city where we were fed a load of bull that the poor guy who just robbed a convenience store was peacefully submitted to arrest and the cop simply shot him. THAT IS A LIE!! There perp was fighting with the officer for his revolver and then came charging at the officer. The officer was cleared by the Grand Jury because witnesses, BLACK witnesses, told the truth.

    BLM platform calls for the rejection of Jewish rights to freedom in EY and the USA. THEY’RE A VILE ANTI-SEMITIC GROUP!

    • woah! and who do u think u are? that is quite a strong statement…. maybe think again before posting something like that on a public forum (or anywhere for that matter…)

  18. George Floyd was a terrible man. So sad how he is now being celebrated in his death and considered a “martyr” for black rights.

  19. Why is everyone jealous, when they witness other religious or irreligious groups engaged in behaviors noted by doctors to be hazardous and deadly, and wishing that we can do the same? The ribono Shel olam that put us on this world for a purpose and made suicide and homicide among the most fundamental aveiros in the Torah did not say that when the government doesn’t stop you, it’s muttar. Legal guidelines should be completely irrelevant as long as the doctors and rabbanim say it is hazardous. The cops don’t stop them from engaging in various assur relations or avoda Zara activities either, but that doesn’t mean we should rush to follow.

  20. Don’t like to criticize TLS as they are deserving of nothing short of praise for what they do for this community and for what this site promotes and how it’s a lifeline for a lot of people to be able to stay informed and in the loop of all that’s relevant to our community. That said, perhaps TLS should have taken an extra look at some of these pictures before posting…והמבין יבין

  21. Yankel Rosenbaum was killed by a black because of black racism. Jews in crown heights and Williamsburg are attacked by blacks all the time. Jewish lives matters. But don’t tell that to the blacks. They were justified.

  22. What’s really sickening is the amount of $ raised to help his siblings, over 9 million last time I checked! Hello?? To.cover funeral coats and counseling blah blah. It’s a sick amount of.money not necessarily in the right hands.

  23. Josh Darabaner says: Nowhere, not in the media nor anywhere else,
    did I find anyone proposing a ban on a police officer using a “knee-in-
    the-neck” regardless of whether or not the person is healthy. It’s not
    “no worse than handcuffing hands behind the back”. It’s much worse.
    The carotid artery, for example, is just below the skin of the neck.
    How dare knee-in-the neck be used in any case at all.

  24. everyone’s life matters, even that of a low life criminal. i worked with integrated professionals and i believe that not a one of my black coworkers wanted their children to turn out like floyd. of course he didnt deserve a death sentence, but i bet most of them cringe when ‘protests’ end up stealing, looting, damaging, injuring, etc. and they find themselves included in the group that is being blamed

  25. does it not bother anyone to see frum people, on shabbos, kneeling and displaying the black power symbol, which has been associated with anti-semitism in the past! sometimes it seems that it is people’s most fervent wish to not have been born a jew. very sad and disturbing.

  26. Protest marches will not stop racism or antisemitism etc. If someone is a bigot in his heart, he will not change. I don’t think any of us had to be at that march, especially since it was Shabbos. (Maybe that’s why it was on Shabbos). The violent protestors who wrecked havoc on LA. New York and other cities should have been arrested and penalized. They certainly are not promoting peace and make me more anti their kind od people of any color.

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