Vigil for George Floyd held on day 9 of protests in the Port City

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — The ninth day of protests ended peacefully in the Port City after protesters stood through 90 degree heat and pouring rain on Sunday.

Protesters concluded their night by playing Purple Rain by Price in honor of his birthday and he being from Minneapolis, MN.

They dispersed quickly as the 9PM curfew approached, by 9:04PM the steps of City Hall were completely empty.

Earlier in the day, the National Black Leadership Caucus and Black Lives Matter held a vigil for George Floyd at 1898 Memorial Park.

“George earned the name ‘gentle giant’ for his quiet personality and the beautiful spirit towards everyone,” Black Lives Matter Representative Vance Williams said.

Not only did the speakers honor Floyd’s life, but leaders asked the crowd to never forget.

“I was always taught that if you forget the past, it will repeat itself,” National Black Leadership Caucus Member Josiah Bennetone said. “So I ask you, each and every one of you out here today, please don’t let it repeat itself.”

Bennetone says this is a fight for justice and equality for all.

“We’re speaking of systematic racism. In our educational system, in our economic system, in the penitentiary system,” Bennetone said. “A system that will pay a teacher around $30,000 a year, but will pay up to $40,000 a year just to house an inmate.​”

Vance Williams says the two organizations are calling for a Citizens Review Board with subpoena power in Wilmington.

The board would oversee complaints and misconduct allegations filed against law enforcement.

“To have those protections in place so we feel safe and so we feel like we can speak out against the injustice that’s happening in our communities,” Williams said.

The vigil ended in a prayer with purpose.

“But Heavenly Father, we’re gonna make this like a democracy like they’ve never seen. Because we’re going to stand up and we’re going to fight in the street, in the courthouse, in the boardrooms, in the state house, everywhere we can. And most of all, we’re gonna fight at the ballot box,” Reverend Kojo Nantambu said.