MIAMI (WSVN) - On the same day mourners converged in Minneapolis for the first memorial for George Floyd, hundreds of healthcare workers at two Miami hospitals held a moment of silence in honor of him.
On Thursday afternoon, hundreds of healthcare workers at Jackson Memorial Hospital and University of Miami Hospital gathered together to pay tribute to the unarmed black man who died at the hands of police.
Dr. Armen Henderson practices internal medicine at UHealth. He was placed in handcuffs by a City of Miami Police officer in front of his home, as he was preparing to hand out tents to the homeless in April.
“It feels good, but honestly, it’s time,” Henderson said. “In Overtown, the life expectancy is 15 years less than what it is in neighborhoods that are literally blocks away, and if we’re not addressing these issues, then people are going to continue to die.”
Healthcare workers just wrapped up a 9 minute moment of silence at Jackson Memorial Hospital…. kneeling in solidarity to reflect on the death of George Floyd. @wsvn pic.twitter.com/qSbq3tob6S
— Katrina Bush (@KatrinaBush) June 4, 2020
They knelt down for a nine-minute moment of silence, which is just a few seconds longer than the amount of time former officer Derek Chauvin pressed his knee on the 46-year-old’s neck.
Organizers who put the event together said the act was to reflect on the senseless death of Floyd and to kneel in solidarity. The slogan for the event was “White Coats 4 Black Lives.”
“Not only do black lives matter but that we all need to speak up with our voice right now,” Alyssa Kavanaugh said. “This is our responsibility. What made me want to come out is to support the black community to have a voice.”
For pediatric pharmacist Stephanie Machin-Lora, the event was an emotional moment.
“We need equality for all, regardless of race,” she said. “It’s hard to understand that people can discriminate towards somebody of a different color, and it’s just upsetting.”
Dr. Tobenna Ubu, a JMH physician, said he was recently labeled a criminal while shopping on vacation.
“I brought a water bottle from outside into a store,” Ubu said. “I looked inside. I decided I didn’t want to buy anything. I walked out, and I got accused of stealing. Status and education do not make me immune.”
Several of the participants held signs that read, “Black Lives Matter,” while another sign read, “Take it from a registered nurse: when someone says they can’t breathe, you help them.”
Since the event was held during the COVID-19 pandemic, all the healthcare workers wore a mask to stay safe.
The doctors and nurses hope the momentum behind the movement does not stall.
They also called for more civilian oversight of local police departments.
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