Silent Vigil for George Floyd in Eau Claire

Several hundred people participated in a silent vigil at Phoenix Park on Monday, June 1. The organizers of the vigil also gathered supplies to send to people in need in Minneapolis due to the protests in the city. The vigil was moving, completely silent, and very peaceful. This was one of many protests and vigils in the area in the past week since George Floyd was killed by the police in Minneapolis. All of the local protests have been very peaceful and generally have respected social distancing measuresl.

But the comments on social media? Not so much. Many of the comments, even about the local respectful protests and vigils, have been full of racist imagery and white supremacy. Nobody should fool themselves that we are in a post-racial society, or that people in the Chippewa Valley are above hatred and bigotry. Let's work together to do better.