LOS ANGELES – It was moment of unity in front of the Los Angeles Police Department Headquarters, as police on the perimeter knelt in solidarity with protesters, demonstrating against police brutality following the death of George Floyd.   

Their gesture was not lost on those who came to make their voices heard, in fact the sight brought Pastor Calvin Sparks to tears.  

“It brought tears to my eyes to tears seeing the police department kneel. I think that was the most phenomenal thing,” said Sparks. 

The peaceful demonstration organized by the Baptist Ministers Conference of Los Angeles was an effort to demonstrate solidarity in the demand of justice for George Floyd.  

Hundreds of clergy members assembled in the intersection of First and Main Streets in DTLA. Unlike many such events, this demonstration wasn’t divided between protesters and law enforcement, members of the LAPD joined in. 

Elder John Bernard felt invigorated by the energy of the hundreds who came to protest. In his 25 years living in this city, he’s never seen the ministers of L.A. come together like this.  

“We can’t expect the world to be what we don’t demonstrate, and so today, America gets a different picture,” Bernard said.