Held in the People’s Park on Saturday, the event was described as incredibly moving by co-ordinators Nicola Twiston Davies and Jude Kriwald.
The hour-long event featured various speeches from different viewpoints designed to encourage discussion as well as a powerful silence during which many people knelt for eight minutes and 46 seconds – the same amount of time that police officer Derek Chauvin is accused of kneeling on the neck of George Floyd for in an incident that has shaken America and sparked protests around the world.
The States police attended the event and praised those who attended for ensuring it was peaceful and socially distanced.
‘Everyone was incredibly respectful of each other and the speakers,’ said Miss Twiston Davies.
‘To kneel for eight minutes 48 seconds was breathtaking for so many reasons, it was so moving. We never actually used the word silence but it just went without saying and it felt so natural. There was a strong sense of solidarity and complete respect.’
Mr Kriwald added: ‘It shows so many people in Jersey care and are stunned by what happened. It was a monumental display of what people want and what people feel.’
