Posted June 12, 2020

Members of several Catholic parishes in the Philadelphia Archdiocese along with other denominations in the Philadelphia area gathered at Broad Street and Cecil B. Moore Avenue in North Philadelphia on Saturday, June 6. The procession headed down Broad Street in prayer, song and reflection. The group, led by the Kingdom Builders organization, had a Philadelphia police escort, which is provided with a protest permit and for whom the marchers prayed for unity and peace along the way. Chants of “no justice, no peace, no corrupt police” were heard along the route to the north side of City Hall where police officers and National Guard soldiers were lined with a metal barrier.

The group prayed over the police and knelt for eight minutes and 46 seconds to honor George Floyd, the man killed May 25 under Minneapolis police restraint, which launched a global movement for justice. In the end, the young people offered hugs to any of the police who felt they needed one. (Photos and story by Sarah Webb)

  • Jahlil Seabron, Kingdom Builders, organized the peaceful prayerful protest that took place on Saturday, June 6.

  • As the group proceeds down Broad Street cars that pass honk in support.

  • Doris James, member of Christlike Church, carries a sign with Ephesians 6:12.

  • Pastor Carol Shores, Eternal Hope of Glory Church in Chester, passionately leads the group in prayer.

  • At Broad and Girard Streets Father Chris Walsh of St. Raymond Parish leads the group in prayer and reflection.

  • Onlookers show support from their homes.

  • During a stop the group extend their hands in prayer over the police escorting them.

  • Kristen G. and A’Nyla Howard get to know each other when the group paused to meet someone new.

  • Joselli Deans, a St. Raymond parishioner, chats with someone she never met before. The group stopped and leaders asked them to take a second to get to know someone they’ve never met.

  • Members of the pro-life community stand along the route with signs to show support.

  • Chris Friel (center) of St. Raymond Parish participated in the peaceful protest.

  • Father Chris Walsh, Caleb Shores and Pastor B.J. Shores march along as Pastor Carol Shores leads the group in a chant of “no justice, no peace, no corrupt police.”

  • At one stop a civil affairs officer who escorted the prayer group took the megaphone to pray along with them. (Photo by David Sao)

  • Pastor Keith Hariston Sr. of Christlike Pleasant Green Faith Baptist Church, leads the group in prayer when they arrive at City Hall before a line of Philadelphia Police officers and members of the National Guard.

  • Protestors take a knee for eight minutes and 46 seconds, the time George Floyd had a knee on his neck and died under police restraint in Minneapolis, in honor of Floyd.

  • After prayer for healing and kneeling in silence for George Floyd at an event in Philadelphia June 9, 2020, Tori Reid from Christlike Church is the first young person of the group to offer hugs to Philadelphia police officers. (Photo by Sarah Webb)

  • After prayer for healing and kneeling in silence for George Floyd, the youth of the group offer hugs to the officers.

  • After prayer for healing and kneeling in silence for George Floyd the youth of the group offer hugs to the officers.