Amid a Philadelphia protest rally last Saturday, a couple who just tied the knot, celebrated their wedding with thousands of protesters.
Kerry-Anne is 35 years old, and Michael Gordon is 42. The couple was not planning to join the protest. Their plan was to get married and celebrate with family and friends. However, when they stepped out of Logan Hotel, they were welcomed by cheers and applause from demonstrators for the George Floyd protest. The participants in the rally were even chanting, "Black lives matter!"
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The Philadelphia protest rally plus a memorable wedding
In an interview with ABC News, the couple shared their thoughts about what happened to George Floyd.
Michael is from the Caribbean, and Kerry-Anne was from Jamaica. While they were celebrating in the middle of the George Floyd protesters, they felt the essence of the Philadelphia protest on a personal level.
According to Michael, the issues which are raised by the protesters have been existing even before George Floyd's death. That is why they felt that their day became more memorable in different ways. "We all see this injustice. We all want to see this needle shift away from the status quo," Michael said.
To Kerry-Anne, it was a "very powerful moment." It was especially moving for her because aside from the people around them, she felt that she was meeting her husband as a strong black man. She also considers Michael as a reliable representative of who they are as people. "It was just a very, very empowering moment for us considering all of this is happening at one moment in one time," Kerry-Anne said.
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Couple pushed through with wedding
Initially, Kerry-Anne and Michael already postponed their wedding. They already scheduled a grand wedding celebration in 2021. That was because of the coronavirus. Still, the couple wanted to get married this year, so they opted to have a small wedding ceremony.
The couple already knew about the Philadelphia protest happening near their wedding venue, but they decided to keep the date that they have chosen.
Although it was not their plan to join, the couple had a wedding celebration that they did not regret. The couple is thankful that they were part of such a momentous event.
Peaceful Philadelphia protest
Michael describes the protest as a peaceful one. He said that everyone who welcomed them in the demonstration was friendly. "That's what the entire event out there was about. Of course, there was police and National Guard," Michael said.
Michael considers the Saturday event as two-way traffic. It was a positive thing for them as a couple to join such a cause, and at the same time, they are happy that their wedding photos, which circulated online, also amplified the message of the Philadelphia protest.
The protest Benjamin Franklin Parkway in Philadelphia is only one of the many protests across the United States. These protests are part of the call against police brutality and racism after the controversial death of George Floyd.
