“God has given us a spirit of expectation to bring the community together.”
– Brittany Gault
by David Miller
Loveland, Ohio – The death of George Floyd hit Desmon Gault hard. I caught up with him and Brittany Gault Monday evening when they finished their evening Unity Prayer Walk through the neighborhoods surrounding the Prince of Peace Church on Lebanon Road.
Concerned over the death of George Floyd and wanting to be a symbol of healing and prayer-filled hope to the Loveland community, Desmon has been organizing evening prayer walks since last Saturday.
Floyd died in police custody on May 25 in the Powderhorn community of Minneapolis, Minnesota. While Floyd was handcuffed and lying face down on a city street during an arrest, Derek Chauvin, a white American Minneapolis police officer, kept his knee on the right side of Floyd’s neck for 8 minutes and 46 seconds; according to the criminal complaint against Chauvin, 2 minutes and 53 seconds of that time occurred after Floyd became unresponsive.
Desmon wrote on FaceBook last Wednesday leading up to his decision to organize the Unity Prayer Walks.
I could barely sleep last night. My mind just wouldn’t turn off. The extreme thoughts of what if that was me, my Dad, my son, my nephews, a family member or friend; flooded my thoughts and emotions. Far too often these thoughts have filtered through my mind through the many events that have unfolded in my lifetime.
We live in a time full of uncertainty. In the year 2020, who would’ve ever imagine we would be fighting the same fight of old. Yes I agree we are ages ahead of the racial tension of old, but yet so far away from the peace and forgiveness we so desperately need as a nation.
Maybe we’re closer than I think. Maybe I’m feeding into the agenda of the media and the powers that be. Maybe I’ve let the perception of the nationwide injustice or the personal experiences of racism I witness in my lifetime, blind my eyes of what actually is. Or maybe I’m just finally awaken to the fact that America will never change.
Many will say we are better than we once were… But systematically are we truly? Though I love the Lord with all my Mind, Body and Spirit, how will that stop someone from using their free will of mistaking me for the wrong person which transpires to me being that latest headline on the news.
Maybe I’m just thinking to much into it, or maybe… just maybe this is the heart wrenching reality of our America.
These were just my thoughts last night…I prayed and finally went to sleep.
Watch this LOVELAND MAGAZINE TV interview with the Gaults to find out what was on their hearts and why they are walking in Loveland. I spoke to this deeply religious couple immediately after Desmon prayed for those who walked with them. I also asked the couple what they would say to “nonbelievers” and asked why the death of George Floyd has made such an impact on everyday people in the Loveland Community.
Desmon said that he hopes that he and his wife can be an inspiration to someone amid this trial in our city and our nation. “When I heard about the death of George Floyd my heart wanted to turn hard and bitter and I wanted to be angry,” he explained. So it was around last Thursday evening he decided to do something to be “impactful to his family, his son, and his daughter.”
Because we are an interracial couple – what can we do to make our voice be known in all of this –– this fog that’s going on in this world? – Desmon Gault
Brittany said, “If anyone wants to join us we’re going to continue this and we just ask God that he’s going to help us lead when others don’t know how to lead. God has given us a spirit of expectation to bring the community together.”
They will be walking again Tuesday beginning at 5:45 PM, meeting at the intersection of West Loveland and North Lebanon Road.
