Photo by David Greene
This is a developing story.
Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark joined Bronx community stakeholders once more in the space of a few days in a call to keep the Bronx peaceful after the verdict is rendered in the trial of Derek Chauvin, following the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis in May 2020.
A outdoor press conference was held on the Grand Concourse steps of Bronx Borough Hall at 851 Grand Concourse and East 161st Street in the Concourse section of The Bronx, at noon on Tuesday, April 20, 2021.
Clark said the killing of George Floyd in May 2020 made a profound impact and was felt across the nation. “These past few weeks, the trial of Derek Chauvin for the death of Mr. Floyd has brought that pain back,” she said. “Today, as the jury deliberates, Bronx stakeholders and I reiterate our support of everyone’s constitutional right to protest peacefully, to speak up against racial injustice.”
Clark continued, “However, we ask everyone to do so in a civil manner, and to show that The Bronx does it right. We must make sure the people of The Bronx are safe. We will not stand for any type of violence or vandalism in our communities.”
Video by David Greene
Other speakers included Lisa Sorin from Bronx Tourism, who speaks after Clark in the attached video, Councilwoman for the 16th City Council District, Vanessa Gibson, who is running for the Bronx borough presidency and Rev. Bishop Angelo Rosario.
Clark then announced that there would be several public places designated across the borough where people could gather safely and peacefully, should they wish to do so following the announcement of the verdict, which is expected to be released on Tuesday at around 4 p.m. The designated locations and planned events include the following:
- 47th Precinct and PSA 8 will host a “Power Hour” vigil tonight between 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. It will be held whether there is a verdict or not at the NYCHA Edenwald Houses Community Center at 1150 East 229th Street, Bronx NY, 10466.
- The Claremont Neighborhood Community Center will offer a safe space to community members for 24 hours after the verdict is rendered at 489 East 169th Street, Bronx, NY 10456.
- The 49th Clergy Council will be hosting a prayer vigil at 7 p.m. on the night of the verdict at Memorial Peace Plaza, Williamsbridge Road and Pelham Parkway North.
- Throggs Neck Resident Council, 45th Precinct and PSA 8 will offer a safe space to community members at the Kips Bay Boys and Girls Club at 550 Balcom Avenue, Bronx, NY 10456, between 6 p.m. and 12 a.m. on Tuesday and on the day of the verdict, if different.
As reported previously by Norwood News, Bronx leaders gathered in the Co-Op City section of The Bronx on Sunday, April 18, in a unified call for calm in anticipation of the verdict this week, and announced that local houses of worship would remain open once the verdict was announced.
At around 5.05 p.m. on Tuesday, it was reported by The Hill, and other media outlets that Chauvin has been found guilty on all counts in the case i.e. second-degree murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. The Hill reported that Chauvin’s defense team had portrayed the former police officer’s actions during the killing as a normal part of police work, and also rested on the idea that other factors led to Floyd’s death, a premise rejected by prosecutors.
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Welcome to the Norwood News, a bi-weekly community newspaper that primarily serves the northwest Bronx communities of Norwood, Bedford Park, Fordham and University Heights. Through our Breaking Bronx blog, we focus on news and information for those neighborhoods, but aim to cover as much Bronx-related news as possible. Founded in 1988 by Mosholu Preservation Corporation, a not-for-profit affiliate of Montefiore Medical Center, the Norwood News began as a monthly and grew to a bi-weekly in 1994. In September 2003 the paper expanded to cover University Heights and now covers all the neighborhoods of Community District 7. The Norwood News exists to foster communication among citizens and organizations and to be a tool for neighborhood development efforts. The Norwood News runs the Bronx Youth Journalism Heard, a journalism training program for Bronx high school students. As you navigate this website, please let us know if you discover any glitches or if you have any suggestions. We’d love to hear from you. You can send e-mails to norwoodnews@norwoodnews.org or call us anytime (718) 324-4998.
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