Pittsburgh-Area Man To Begin 8-Day Stretch Of Standing For Racial Injustice, Gender Equality, Unity
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- A Pittsburgh man is starting a multi-day demonstration to speak out about societal issues. He's staging it at a prominent Pittsburgh mural.
Joe McCain has been helping the community for about 25 years. Monday started his demonstration for unity at the Black Lives Matter Mural along Ft. Duquesne Boulevard.
For 10 hours a day, for the next eight days, McCain will be at a platform along the Allegheny River.
"You can't stand out here for like one day for three hours and expect people to take you serious," he said. "You have to sacrifice like Mother Teresa scarified, like Martin Luther King sacrificed."
McCain said he is standing for unity, love, peace, understanding, healing and positive change. During the day he will be standing to support many groups, including Black Lives Matter. At 8:46 a.m., he stands for eight minutes and 46 seconds. It's the amount of time an officer knelt on the neck of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
"African-Americans want to feel like everyone else when they see that American flag," McCain said.
At noon, he stands for nine minutes and 11 seconds to remember 9/11, military, veterans, essential workers and first responders. Around 3 p.m., he stands for the LGBTQ community and ends the day with prayer at 5:30 p.m.
"We have to talk about what we're dissatisfied with. We have to talk about what needs to change. We have to talk about what we're uncomfortable with," McCain said before beginning his demonstration.
McCain is asking for the community to join him. Whether it's at his stand in downtown or standing across the river creating the bridge of unity for his demonstration.
"I thought that would be sort of majestic and spiritual. An opportunity to be as one," he said.
McCain will have his demonstration through Monday, Sept. 14th.
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