Families of coronavirus victims ‘March for the Dead’ against US government
New York, Aug 21 (efe-epa).- Hundreds of people from the families of coronavirus victims gathered on Friday in Brooklyn to attend the “March for the Dead” and mourn the loss of over 175,000 Americans to the pandemic under President Donald Trump’s administration.
“(Some) 175,000 have died of Covid-19. Trump is responsible for every single death.” the organizers of the march said in a Facebook post, streaming the event live on social media.
The sunset candlelight procession began at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, with people moving across the Brooklyn Bridge towards Manhattan.
The participants, mostly dressed in white and wearing masks, held a huge black banner “Trump lies, People die,” as they chanted “march for the dead, fight for the living.”
At Manhattan, they observed silence and lit hundreds of candles as a sign of mourning and to remember those who died due to the virus.
They also carried an American flag waving upside down, which is normally used in times of danger.
Few steps ahead, a small group of half a dozen elderly people in wheelchairs represented the section of the population most vulnerable to the coronavirus.
Shortly after the event began, Senate Democratic minority leader Chuck Schumer expressed his support for the rally and the families and loved ones of the deceased.
“I stand with all of the people and families in New York and across America taking part in the #MarchForTheDead,” Schumer tweeted.
“Democrats will not stop fighting for action from the Trump administration.”
As of early Saturday morning, the US had seen nearly 5.8 million cases of coronavirus, with 179,200 fatalities, according to the Johns Hopkins University’s online tracker.
The organizers of the march demanded new federal leadership. “Now.”
“We can’t wait until November. Donald Trump should resign.”
They demanded that the president should “stop denying the right to vote and stop stymying efforts to make participation safe.” They also asked for sound federal and state coronavirus policies “based on the best scientific information available.” EFE-EPA
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