ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Saturday was supposed to mark the 18th annual St. Pete Pride Parade but due to the pandemic, a parade wasn’t an option.
Still, Come OUT St. Pete, Dr. Carter G. Woodson African American Museum, and Project No Labels, put together an event called the "Together We Rise" vigil, where people could safely come together to celebrate and stand in solidarity, all while keeping their social distance and staying safe.
Hundreds of people showed up to the event, each one wearing a face mask. They all spread out to hold a portion of the 375-foot Pride flag that was unfurled down Bayshore Dr.
“I am here for many reasons, number one, black lives matter. I am married to a biracial woman and many of my friends are of the Black, African American community, Spanish community, white community, and I just believe that in order for us to have equality, black lives need to matter,” said Tiffany Howard, a supporter at the vigil.
The group of people chanted and sang together. They also knelt for 8 minutes and 46 seconds in a moment of silence for George Floyd of Minneapolis, Tony McDade of Tallahassee, Rayshard Brooks of Atlanta, Dominque Fells of Philadelphia, and Ria Milton of Liberty Township.
Following chants, the group led a candlelight vigil.
