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George Floyd protesters stand together at Gantry State Park in Long Island City

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Photos by Dean Moses

A day after a series of vigils throughout Queens went off without escalation from police or demonstrators, protests continued in the World’s Borough on Saturday.

The vigils were held June 5 on what would have been Breonna Taylor’s 27th birthday. Taylor, a Black woman who was an EMT, was fatally shot by police officers in her apartment in Kentucky in March.

Taylor’s death — along with the death of George Floyd, a Black man who died in Minneapolis on May 25 after after Derek Chauvin, a white policeman, knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes — have reigniting the issue of police brutality against African Americans and Black people in the United States.

On Saturday, protesters seeking Justice for Floyd gathered at Gantry State Park in Long Island City.

The event was scheduled to begin with live music performances and speeches by our organizers and community members including Bob Battipaglia (by proxy) and Pastor Darryl Williams of The First Reformed Church of Astoria, followed by a march.

Photo by Dean Moses

Photo by Dean Moses

Photo by Dean Moses

Photo by Dean Moses

Photo by Dean Moses

There was a bit of drama between the demonstrators and anti-protesters.

Photo by Dean Moses
Photo by Dean Moses