Heartwarming moment newlyweds join Black Lives Matter protest

Lauren Clark
Updated ·3-min read

A bride and groom joined a Black Lives Matter protest straight after their wedding this weekend.

Dr Kerry Anne Perkins and Michael Gordon were taking photos outside Logan Hotel in Philadelphia, where they had just tied the knot when a march held in honour of George Floyd passed by them on Saturday.

Newlyweds Dr Kerry Anne and Michael Gordon joined the Black Lives Matter protests in Philadelphia. Photo: AP
Newlyweds Dr Kerry Anne and Michael Gordon joined the Black Lives Matter protests in Philadelphia. Photo: AP

In videos shared to Twitter, the newlywed couple can be seen deciding to join the crowd in a mark of support.

Holding hands, they both raise their fists in the air, before sharing a kiss - much to the delight of cheering onlookers bearing placards.

Speaking to E! News about the moment, their wedding planner Rev. Roxy Birchfield said: “They were supposed to get married at Legacy Castle and it was postponed.

She explained that with their New Jersey nuptials unable to take place, the couple decided to tie the knot on the hotel’s lawn instead.

View this post on Instagram

My first in-person elopement since quarantine... It couldn’t be a better @marriedbyrevroxy WEDDING... First looks in the heart of protest...😉 #blacklivesmatter . . . Today’s photographer is @lindamcqueenphotography ... photo to follow... . . BRIDE 👰🏾 @callmedoctor.p

A post shared by REV. ROXY (MORRIS) Birchfield (@marriedbyrevroxy) on

It was when they were posing for photos outside the building that the protest passed them, and they proceeded to join the crowd all the way to City Hall.

Wedding march goes viral on Twitter

The couple tied the knot before embarking on a slightly different kind of wedding march. Photo: AP
The couple tied the knot before embarking on a slightly different kind of wedding march. Photo: AP

The moment has gone viral on Twitter - where tens of thousands of people have praised them for pausing their big day celebrations to show solidarity with the movement.

One person wrote: “I am crying it’s so beautiful.”

Another commented: “The power of love on so many levels.”

A third shared: “Congratulations to the beautiful couple! Such a touching display of love at a time when it's desperately needed.

And a fourth added: “Congratulations to the newlyweds! What a beautiful expression of love and hope for the future.”

Last month, Dr Perkins - who works as an obstetrics and gynaecology specialist in Delran and Hainesport, New Jersey - recently revealed on Instagram how she and her other half got engaged last year.

The medic wrote: “7 years ago he asked, I said no. He waited patiently. 5 years ago he asked, I said may be. He acted patiently.”

She continued: “2 years ago he let go, I came in. 1 year ago he asked, I said YES!”

The post - which captioned a shot of her future husband getting down on one knee - has received more than 4,000 ‘likes’.

Black Lives Matter protests sweep the globe

The US Black Lives Matter protests initially broke out after footage of George Floyd being suffocated to death by a police officer who knelt on his neck for eight minutes began circulating online.

The officer in question, Derek Chauvin, has since been charged with third-degree murder.

In Australia, protests held in solidarity swept the nation over the weekend, with many marching for better justice for Indigenous Australians.

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