A group of about 50 protesters marched into downtown Canal Winchester on June 2 to protest against police violence and the death of George Floyd. Floyd, a black man, died in Minneapolis on May 25 after a white police officer (who is now charged with murder) pressed his knee on Floyd’s neck for nearly nine minutes. Unlike recent protests in cities nationwide that turned violent, the protesters in Canal Winchester were peaceful. Fairfield County Sheriff’s deputies were present downtown and many were stationed along the march route on West Waterloo Street from Wal-Mart to the downtown area to protect the protesters and others. One deputy was overheard to comment about the protesters, “These are people who are just exercising their rights.” Pictured here is a portion of the protesters on the corner of High and Waterloo streets. The protesters chanted slogans such as “Justice for George Floyd” and “Black Lives Matter.” Some people in passing cars honked their horns in support of the protesters. Downtown Canal Winchester businesses closed in anticipation of the protest potentially turning violent, which it did not.
