Old Lyme — Residents of Old Lyme are organizing a peaceful march and rally "to stand up in solidarity to fight against racial injustice" at 1 p.m. Saturday. The event will begin at Town Hall and will proceed down Lyme Street, ending on the lawn at the First Congregational Church of Old Lyme.

There, community leaders will make speeches before observing a moment of silence to honor George Floyd — the man who died last month after a white Minneapolis police officer pressed his knee into his neck during an arrest — as well as "the many, many lives lost before his" due to police brutality, according to a news release announcing the event.

"The goal of the march and rally is to allow the community to stand together against racial injustice in all its forms," event organizer Anna Retier wrote in the release. "We want this to be a meaningful and powerful event to bring long overdue changes to our communities."

Speakers will include First Congregational Church Rev. Dr. Steven Jungkeit, Emily Bjornberg, First Selectman Timothy Griswold, Selectwoman Mary Jo Nosal and human rights attorney David Rubino.

All participants must wear a mask and maintain 6 feet of distance between families at all times.

All are welcome and encouraged to join this event.

— Mary Biekert