Special Section B - This Edition


VOLUME 14 NO. 23

 SATURDAY, JUNE 6, 2020 

SIERRA 
MADRE UNITES 
PEACEFULLY 
AGAINST 
RACISM 
AND POLICE 
BRUTALITY 

By Kevin Mcguire/ MVNews

A solemn gathering filled Sierra Vista Park 
Thursday afternoon, just one of many peaceful 
protests held across the country in the wake of 
the death of George Floyd, a 46-year-old black 
man from Minneapolis, MN who was killed 
when white police officer, Derek Chauvin, knelt 
on his neck for close to nine minutes. 

Two other officers, Thomas Lane and J. Alexander 
Kueng helped restrain Floyd while officer Tou 
Thao stood by. A video showing Floyd gasping 
for air was a wake up call for the country. He 
could also be calling for his deceased mother and 
yelling “I can’t breathe!” Chauvin was charged 
with second degree murder, and the other three 
officers were charged with aiding and abetting 
second-degree murder and manslaughter. Floyd 
was accused of passing a counterfeit $20 bill at a 
local market. He died moments later after being 
handcuffed by police. The incident sparked 
nationwide attention to the issues of Police 
Brutality and Racism..

Concerned Sierra Madreans organized a protest 
in Sierra Vista Park on the afternoon of George 
Floyd’s memorial service, which occurred earlier 
that in the morning in Minneapolis. Many wore 
masks as the COVID-19 pandemic are still 
required. COVID-19 definitely added tensions 
escalating over the growing amount of cases 
of unarmed black men being killed by police. 
Peaceful gatherings around U.S. cities were 
also eclipsed by looting and destruction, which 
triggered the presence of the National Guard, set 
curfews and revived the horrible memories of 
the 1992 Los Angeles riots and civil unrest of the 
60s in some cities.

But in Sierra Madre, residents of all different 
ages, races, religions and sexual orientation 
came together to show solidarity against racism, 
excessive force by police, profiling, and white 
supremacy, the ugly realities of everyday life for 
many people of color. 

With Dapper Field as a backdrop late in the 
afternoon, homemade signs were lifted high 
with many reading “Black Lives Matter” and “I 
can’t breathe!” The congregation of as many as 
300 were greeted with guest speakers, religious 
words of comfort, and music to the tune of I Will 
Build this World from Love…Tai Dai Dai. 

Mayor John Capoccia (pictured above) received 
a roar of applause for condemning racist 
acts and profiling. “I admire our citizens for 
taking on such a noble cause. Some reforms 
are long overdue. In Sierra Madre, we believe 
that all humans have the right to dignity, and 
constitutionally the right to pursue happiness 
and some of the problems we have in America 
are preventing people of color from doing that,” 
Capoccia said prior to the event. “Sierra Madre 
wants to see meaningful changes so that all 
Americans are treated fairly.” 

After the music and inspirational talks, the crowd 
erupted in unison and shouted, clapped, cheered 
and banged, whatever they could, continuously 
for a full eight minutes plus minutes, the time 
Chauvin kept his knee on Floyd’s throat, 
ultimately causing his death. Then the crowd fell 
silent for another minute—many bowing heads 
and some dropping to one knee to acknowledge 
the almost nine minutes George Floyd spent 
pleading for police to stop, gasping for air and 
falling unconscious and silent.

The event lasted about an hour and seemed be to 
a satisfying start to the healing for at least some 
in attendance. 

“I thought this event was very powerful. I thank 
the city of Sierra Madre for coming out and 
speaking up for Black Lives Matter,” said J.T. 
Chestnut, who came to the event from Pasadena. 
“I think during this time, it’s important for all 
of us to come together and speak about the 
problems that are going on with our country. 
Sierra Madre did a great job, especially pointing 
out the fact that white privilege really does exist. 
As a gay, black, man I really do appreciate that,” 
he said.

Ann McKenzie, a Sierra Madre resident, also 
participated and was happy with the attendance. 
“I’m really proud of my city for showing up for 
this peaceful, prayer demonstration of unity. It’s 
a longtime coming,” she said. 

Peyton Emerson of Sierra Madre a youth speaker 
was impressed with the turnout and direction of 
the event. “I thought it was surprisingly large 
and a lot of people had a lot of good things to 
say. I think it was really great that they allowed 
members of the black community, such as myself 
to speak and incorporated people from different 
religions as well. They were able to reach a lot of 
people today, but I don’t think this should be the 
end. We need to keep fighting until we get the 
change we want,” Emerson said. Young Sierra 
Madre Josiah Kidd also spoke.

For those who could not attend, there was 
an organized candlelight vigil conducted 
individually in many homes in Sierra Madre.

The Sierra Madre Police Department was also 
present at the event supporting the community 
and keeping everyone safe. Attendees left the 
same way they came in…peaceful, hopeful and 
determined. 

Photo courtesu Dirk Bolle

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COUNTY AND STATE-RUN COVID-19 TESTING 
SITES ARE ALL OPEN

LA County and State run testing sites are all open. Residents can make 
an appointment by visiting the County COVID-19 testing website. Same 
day appointments are available at State operated Optum-Serve sites.

“We are committed to ensuring that testing is widely available to people 
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Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285 Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com