WS Chronicle

Peaceful protests held throughout the week in response to the murder of George Floyd continued into the weekend as thousands flooded the streets on Saturday and Sunday here in Winston-Salem.

On Saturday, June 6, dozens of teachers and other educators gathered outside the Forsyth County Hall of Justice for a demonstration led by the Forsyth County Association of Educators. During the peaceful protest, educators and others with invested interest in local education made several demands including: COVID testing in East Winston; all schools have equitable resources with qualified staff in all job categories; all schools and buildings are structurally sound and free of environmental hazards; a parent/community oversight/review committee to review student school suspensions in the district on a quarterly basis; all schools have peer mediation for low level offenses; the desegregation of schools; and cultural bias training. 

More than a thousand demonstrators joined the teachers on Saturday afternoon before the group marched through the streets of downtown Winston-Salem. The crowd started down Main Street and turned on First Street before taking a knee outside the Forsyth County Jail in honor of George Floyd. 

After taking another knee at the corner of Fourth and Marshall Streets, demonstrators finally gathered in Winston Square Park where speakers called for an end to all violence and the need for police reform. 

Later that day, a flashlight vigil was held at City Hall in honor of Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and others who have lost their lives while interacting with law enforcement.

On Sunday demonstrators were asked to stay in their cars during a drive-by protest. According to organizers, more than 150 cars joined the demonstration that started on Reynolda Road and traveled throughout city.