Clark County public defenders lead rally seeking to end police brutality

A group of public defenders and others gathered for an 8-minute, 46-second moment of silence outside the Regional Justice Center on Monday, June 8, 2020, in Las Vegas in honor of George Floyd. The demonstration follows more than a week of protests against police brutality after Floyd, a black man, was killed by a white Minneapolis police officer when he knelt on Floyd's neck for 8 minutes and 46 seconds. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

The lights at Las Vegas City Hall are crimson and gold in remembrance of George Floyd on Monday, June 8, 2020 in Las Vegas. Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner called on cities around the United States to light buildings in honor of Floyd, who graduated from Houston's Jack Yates High School, whose colors are crimson and gold. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

A group of public defenders and others gathered for an 8-minute, 46-second moment of silence in honor of George Floyd outside the Regional Justice Center on Monday, June 8, 2020 in Las Vegas. The demonstration follows more than a week of protests against police brutality after Floyd, a black man, was killed by a white Minneapolis police officer when he knelt on Floyd's neck for 8 minutes and 46 seconds. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

William Covington, left, and Brandon Monson, right, participate in an 8-minute, 46-second moment of silence outside the Regional Justice Center on Monday, June 8, 2020 in Las Vegas. The demonstration follows more than a week of protests against police brutality after Floyd, a black man, was killed by a white Minneapolis police officer when he knelt on Floyd's neck for 8 minutes and 46 seconds. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Jessica Smith-Peterson sits in silence after speaking George Floyd's last words to a group taking an 8-minute, 46-second moment of silence outside the Regional Justice Center on Monday, June 8, 2020 in Las Vegas. The demonstration follows more than a week of protests against police brutality after Floyd, a black man, was killed by a white Minneapolis police officer when he knelt on Floyd's neck for 8 minutes and 46 seconds. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Nevada Assembly Speaker Jason Frierson participates in an 8-minute and 46-second moment of silence for George Floyd outside the Regional Justice Center on Monday, June 8, 2020 in Las Vegas. The demonstration follows more than a week of protests against police brutality after Floyd, a black man, was killed by a white Minneapolis police officer when he knelt on Floyd's neck for 8 minutes and 46 seconds. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Casondra Ganti, a local flight attendant, participates in an 8-minute, 46-second moment of silence outside the Regional Justice Center on Monday, June 8, 2020 in Las Vegas. The demonstration follows more than a week of protests against police brutality after Floyd, a black man, was killed by a white Minneapolis police officer when he knelt on Floyd's neck for 8 minutes and 46 seconds. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

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By Alexis Egeland / Las Vegas Review-Journal

June 8, 2020 - 8:25 pm

Updated June 8, 2020 - 9:55 pm

About 200 people, including many public defenders, gathered in front of the Regional Justice Center on Monday evening to demand an end to police brutality.

John Piro, chief deputy public defender for the Clark County public defender’s office, said public defenders across the nation gathered in similar rallies Monday night.

“We are the ones who stand with them in the courtrooms and try to make judges see the humanity of our clients,” Piro said. “It’s important for us to say that we see you and we are here with you.”

Austin Barnum, a former extern for the public defender’s office who now works in the attorney general’s office, kicked off the event with a spoken-word poem about white allies in the Black Lives Matter movement.

“We need you to speak your truth because they tried to bury you but didn’t realize they were planting seeds,” he said.

Barnum said he’s been a spoken-word poet for about a decade and uses it as a creative outlet.

“Anytime I get really passionate about something, I just have to write a poem,” Barnum said.

“I just want people of color to know that they do have white allies and that many of us are ready to listen and to learn,” he said.

Belinda Harris, a public defender who is running for a Justice Court seat, said public defenders argue in court that black lives matter every single day.

“We are done hashtagging; we are now planning,” Harris said. “Not only are we protesting in the streets but we are taking over these political seats.”

The group sat and knelt on the steps to the courthouse for eight minutes and 46 seconds, while public defender Jessica Smith-Peterson recited the last words George Floyd spoke before he died while in custody of Minneapolis police on May 25. On that date an officer held his knee on Floyd’s neck for nearly nine minutes after the unarmed black man was accused of trying to buy cigarettes with a fraudulent $20 bill.

The crowd was somber as the words were recited.

“I can’t breathe,” Smith-Peterson repeated.

After the moment of silence, Smith-Peterson led the group in a gradual chant.

“It is our duty to fight for our freedom,” the group yelled. “We have nothing to lose but our chains.”

Contact Alexis Egeland at aegeland@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0335. Follow @alexis_egeland on Twitter.