Members of the community take a moment of silence during a peaceful protest at FIU. Photo by Margi Rentis.

June 2020 in photos: Peaceful protest, Gov. DeSantis' visit and Panthers Protecting Panthers

June 30, 2020 at 12:15pm

Just when it seemed these times could not be more unprecedented, June happened.

The month began with worldwide protests of racial inequality and police brutality after George Floyd died in police custody in Minneapolis. A peaceful protest was held at FIU and the university launched its Equity Action Initiative project.

Later in the month, when coronavirus cases in Florida began to climb to all-time highs, Gov. Ron Desantis held a press conference at FIU with local leadership and health care CEOs to address the growing pandemic. In the meantime, FIU shared what students can expect in the Fall and had its plan to repopulate campuses approved by the Florida Board of Governors. Preparations for the plan, known as Panthers Protecting Panthers, are already underway.

Here are some of the most important moments from June, as captured by FIU photographers Margi Rentis and Carl-Frederick Francois.

Approximately 1,000 people gathered at MMC on June 6 to protest police brutality and racial inequality. Photo by Margi Rentis.

For more information on the demonstration at FIU, check out our story.

Gov. Ron DeSantis held a news conference at the university on June 19 with Mayor Carlos Gimenez, President Mark B. Rosenberg, Secretary of the Agency for Health Care Administration Mary Mayhew and local health care CEOs to discuss how Florida is addressing the coronavirus. Photo by Carl-Frederick Francois.

Florida's governor and local health care CEOs assured the public that Florida is prepared to handle the rising number of cases. Check out our story for more.

Assistant Director of the Department of Emergency Management Bridget Pelaez explains how a COVID-19 nasopharyngeal swab works to a patient at the COVID-19 testing site. Pelaez says that walking patients through the steps of the process is crucial. "We have such limited time with the patients, but I believe in those few minutes we are able to provide a service and connect with our community through these difficult times." Photo by Margi Rentis.

This is the kind of socially-distanced configuration that students can expect in the Fall for in-person classes. The Florida Board of Governors approved FIU's plan to repopulate campuses earlier this month. Photo by Margi Rentis.

For more information on what to expect in the Fall, check out President Mark B. Rosenberg's message.