Georgia Catholics and United Methodists will hit the streets Thursday and Friday to protest racism and show solidarity with the black community.
Today, Catholics will march from the Catholic Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, 48 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive S.W. through downtown.
At 4 p.m. there will be a short prayer service before the march begins.
There will be a moment of prayer at the Georgia State Capitol then marchers will continue to Centennial Olympic Park for final prayers.
At the park there will be a symbolic period of 8 minutes and 46 seconds in sacred silence to honor those who have lost their lives in the ongoing fight for racial equality in the United States.
George Floyd, who was handcuffed, died after Minneapolis police officers restrained him and one, Derek Chauvin, held his knee on Floyd’s neck for 8 minutes and 46 seconds.
The four officers have been arrested and face various charges.
During a livestream, Pope Francis called racism a “sin.”
“My friends, we cannot tolerate or turn a blind eye to racism and exclusion in any form and yet claim to defend the sacredness of every human life,” the pope remarked.
He also said violence during the protests was “self defeating” and called for reconciliation.
On Friday, clergy and laity from the North Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church will join Bishop Sue Haupert-Johnson and the Conference Committee on Religion and Race for a march against racism.
Participants will gather at at 10:30 a.m. Central United Methodist Church, 501 Mitchell St. S.W. Marchers will leave the church at 11 a.m.
People must wear face masks and adhere to 6 feet of social distancing guidelines for the duration of the march.
Those who are unable to attend in person, may register as virtual marchers.
