Givionne “Gee” Jordan Jr. kneeled before a line of police officers in tactical gear as fellow protesters kneeled at his side, some stretching their arms out to touch his back in solidarity.
“I am not your enemy, you are not my enemy,” Jordan yelled to the officers at Marion Square in Charleston, S.C., on May 31. “You are my family, I love you and I respect you. And I want to understand y’all.”
Seconds later, several officers stepped forward and arrested Jordan, sparking outrage from protesters who shouted: “What are you doing?” “Freedom of speech!”
Jordan, 23, a Black man, said he hoped his message would promote peace and unity between protesters and police after several local businesses were looted the night before.
Instead, police held him in the county jail for one night and charged him with disobeying a lawful order. Jordan said authorities told him he did not have a permit to host a large public gathering, though he says he never planned for the protesters to join him
