Hickory – People of all colors will peacefully come together to demand justice for George Floyd — and all the other black and brown brothers and sisters murdered by the very police who were sworn to protect them – and to call for the end of police brutality.

To better accommodate the number of attendees, the event will take place outside of Hickory City Hall at 76 N Center St, Hickory, NC 28601. There will be no march. The event will start at 1 p.m. and end by 2 p.m.

• Wear a mask. We will have a limited number of masks available to hand out, please see COVID-19 protocol.

• Signs, banners, and posters without sticks are welcome and encouraged.

• Hydrate before you come, and bring water with you.

• Use sun protection.

• A small bag or purse is fine, but please avoid bringing large bags or backpacks to allow for more space in the crowd.

• Please do not bring umbrellas or chairs (unless medically necessary.) We will have a special section towards the front of the event for people with disabilities. See a volunteer in a yellow vest for directions.

• Please do not bring any weapons to this peaceful event.

• If you choose to bring young children, please write your contact number on their arm with a permanent marker so we can contact you in the event you become separated.

• Volunteers in yellow vests will be roaming and available to assist you. We will also have information stations set up throughout the event.

COVID-19 PROTOCOL

Standing up for civil rights is critical, and we believe this event is justifiably urgent and necessary. However, attending an event of this size during a pandemic means taking extra precautions to protect yourself and others. We are urging all participants to engage in the following COVID-19 safety measures as a way to minimize community spread, especially as cases are on the rise in Catawba County.

• If you are feeling ill or exhibiting any symptoms of COVID-19, DO NOT ATTEND THIS EVENT. Symptoms include cough, fever, and shortness of breath. If you have been tested and are waiting on results, stay home.

• Everyone should wear a mask at all times during the event. We will have a limited number of masks available at information stations and from volunteers in yellow vests, but please bring your own if you have one.

• Maintain social distance. This will be difficult. Do your best, and don’t be afraid to politely remind others. We are all in this together.

• If you carpool or meet up with people outside of your household, maintain distance and wear a mask for the duration of your time together.

• We will offer voter registration at the information stations. If you need to register to vote, sanitize your hands before and after you use the pen and clipboard to ensure it remains germ-free for the next person.

• If you are concerned for any reason, please stay home. We will live stream the event on Facebook for people who are unable to attend.

This event is organized by local Hickory residents, Daria Jackson and Tyler Conley. Love is a Verb – Hickory, NC is following their lead, showing our support, and helping with logistics at their request.

We will also be sharing calls to action to ensure this event has the desired and lasting effect of propelling our community conversation about racial justice and reconciliation forward.

We would like to extend a special thank you to the Hickory Police Department and various community leaders for their support of this event. They have been a vital part of the process to ensure we are able to come together in solidarity safely and effectively.