Silent Black Lives Matter Vigil In JP Draws More Than 1k

JAMAICA PLAIN, MA — More than 1,000 people showed up for a silent vigil in front of the monument at the intersection of Centre and South streets. But they didn't stay silent long.

The vigil comes in the wake of the death of George Floyd last week after a Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for nearly 9 minutes. The death of Floyd sparked protests and rallies across the country, including several rallies across Boston that have brought out as many as 20,000 people.

Organizers said this vigil was meant to be a silent vigil, consisting of a simple standout in support of Black Lives Matter to last for 30 minutes.

However, between the helicopters, the beeping of horns as cars drove past and the chants of participants, most of the vigil had the sound on.

Chants of "no justice, no peace" and "say his name" rang out until nearly the end of the 30 minutes, when suddenly everyone stopped and took a knee, some throwing a fist in the air, some holding signs, all silent for about 4 minutes.

Then, as the bell on the church clock tower finished its last ring, people stood and one voice rang out clear: "Black lives matter!"

The voices of hundreds joined in to continue that chant for several rounds.

At that, the vigil was supposed to end, but people continued chanting and edging out into the street.

About a dozen police officers -some holding batons and with helmets clipped into their belts- that had stood back largely unnoticed, stepped in to direct traffic as cars honked and people continued to chant.

Junior Nash, 33 of Cambridge came out with his girlfriend Sadie Jordan who lives in JP. Nash told his girlfriend that he'd never seen anything like this. And that moment of silence felt important to him.

"I came out because we need a change, and this has gone on too long," he said.

Jordan said the vigil hit a chord.

"I really feel grateful, though that's not quite the right word, for all the white people to be out here. I do feel the solidarity," she said. "And so many people willing to stand up and fight, I really feel like JP showed up. I feel the love."

According to the vigil's invitation, organizers asked that participants wear a face covering, plan to stand at least 6-feet from the next person and bring signs, but in practice, although most people wore masks, there were areas along the sidewalk four rows deep shoulder-to-shoulder along Centre Street at the monument to the fire house in one direction and to the community center on the other. Organizers had encouraged those who preferred not to come so close to others, to stand out silently, between 5:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. along Centre and South streets between Jackson Square and Forest Hills- and they lined Centre Street to the Baptist Church.

The group, "Black Lives Matter" in Jamaica Plain holds monthly vigils every first Thursday of the month, usually outside the Baptist Church across from the post office on Centre Street.

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By 8 p.m. at least one group had split off from the vigil and marched down Centre Street past City Feed and down Green Street, beyond the T to the police station on Green Street in JP. For 9 minutes they held an impromptu "die-in" and while participants took a knee, speakers urged young people to get involved and to vote.