Black Community Leaders Reflect on Progress Made in Protest Movement

By Mike Kiniry,

Published October 27, 2020 at 12:42 PM EDT

More than 200 people protested on Sunday outside the Fort Myers Police Department. The protest was held in response to the recent death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Derek Chauvin, a former Minneapolis police officer, has been charged in the killing of Floyd. — More than 200 people protested in early June, 2000 outside the Fort Myers Police Department. The protest was held in response to the recent death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Derek Chauvin, a former Minneapolis police officer, has been charged in the killing of Floyd.

Back in early June when protests in response to the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police officers were rapidly spreading and growing across the country we assembled a panel comprised of members of southwest Florida’s Black community to talk about what was happening. While protests have mostly stopped, efforts continue to try and address systemic racism and police violence. And, with the election just a week away with these issues in many ways central on the ballot, both nationally and locally, we have invited them back to talk about what’s happened since the summer and where things stand today.

Guests:

Dr. Peter Ndiang’ui, Visiting Assistant Professor in Florida Gulf Coast University's College of Education, and President of the African Network of Southwest Florida.

Beatrice Jacquet-Castor, President of the Haitian American Community Coalition of SWFL, and CFO and Owner of and Jacquet & Associates Bookkeeping & Business Services.

Lodovic Kimble, retired K-12 educator and college professor, community organizer, and former President of the Lee County NAACP.

Chantel Rhodes, community organizer and one of the admins of the Facebook group “Peaceful Protest Lee County.”