[FREEP] General Motors said it will recognize Friday — the day known as "Juneteenth," which celebrates the end of slavery in the U.S. — with 8 minutes, 46 seconds of silence to support the Black community.The time frame represents the length of time a white Minneapolis police officer knelt on the neck of a Black man named George Floyd on May 25 before Floyd died. The videotaped incident has prompted weeks of protests against police brutality across the country and around the world.
The news comes a day after GM's self-driving subsidiary, Cruise, said it recognizes Juneteenth as a holiday. A GM front man told the Free Press on Monday that GM also had plans to mark the day.
The moment of silence recognition was outlined to GM employees Tuesday afternoon in an internal memo from GM President Mark Reuss.
"I really believe eight-plus minutes of solid reflection will benefit everyone," Reuss wrote. "I’m sure many of you have felt the same glut of emotions I have while watching recent events unfold ... disbelief, anger, shame, grief, and ultimately heartbreak. This is not who we are as humankind, nor as a country."