Marine vet stood in 100-degree heat for 3-hour silent protest, causing soles of his shoes to melt

In sweltering 100-degree heat, United States Marine veteran Todd Winn stood still for three hours in full uniform with his mouth taped shut, silently protesting the killing of George Floyd. The powerful scene played out on Friday in front of the Utah State Capitol building in Salt Lake City. On the tape covering his lips, the words “I can’t breathe” were written -- one of the final phrases Floyd uttered before he died late last month. 

Thousands of protestors took part in a protest at the Utah State Capitol the day prior to Winn’s solitary silent protest. In the photos of the protest, which have gone viral, Winn is shown holding a sign reading: "Justice for George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Tamir Rice and countless others," which, in addition to Floyd, are the names of other African Americans who have died in police brutality incidents.

Adding to the gravity of Winn's demonstration was the weather conditions under which it was carried out. The temperature soared to 100 F in Salt Lake City on Friday, a record-breaking mark that eclipsed the previous record high of 98 for the day set 20 years ago, according to the National Weather Service. It was also the earliest day the city has reached the 100-degree mark, the NWS reported. Previously, the earliest the thermometer hit triple digits in Salt Lake City was on June 7, 1985.

The heat was so extreme that the rubber soles of Winn's shoes started to melt in the blistering conditions. Photos that showed his shoes melting were captured by Robin Pendergrast, a local photographer who moved from Chicago to Salt Lake City five years ago.

Speaking with AccuWeather TV Producer Monica Danielle, Pendergrast, 75, said that during the demonstration, he approached Winn a couple of times to take photos, connect with the retired Marine "and tell him thanks." Pendergrast said, "He would nod his head slightly," and added that Winn appeared to be OK throughout the protest and under the hot sun.

Pendergrast told AccuWeather several bystanders brought Winn drinks, and that one woman gave him a Gatorade, but he "never took a drink. Not one sip." At times, Winn took a knee, as many other protesters and law enforcement officials have done in recent days.

Winn told reporters that he dreamed of being a Marine since he was a little kid, but those plans were suddenly cut short when he was wounded twice while he was deployed in Iraq. He suffered traumatic brain injuries, spent several years dealing with PTSD, depression and short-term memory loss, according to CBS News. 

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Winn said his time with the Marines changed his perspective, and he was able to let go of what he called the "small-minded ideas" he grew up with, according to CBS.

"You know, until I left home and joined the Marine Corps, I didn't really understand that that was wrong. Until I served with men whose skin was a different color than mine, who were the finest men that I've ever known, help me to learn that really we're all the same," Winn explained to KUTV. 

The veteran has received praise as well as criticism after photos of him protesting in uniform circulated across the country. After Winn’s protest received criticism from fellow veterans and strangers online, he said he agrees that military personnel should not protest or take sides on political issues, but he sees this as a human issue, not a political one, KUTV reported. 

"Really, all I have to say to my fellow Marines and veterans is: You're right. What I did in a prescriptive sense was wrong. But I believe that morally and ethically it was the right decision to make," Winn said. 

Winn said in the interview with KUTV he has no ill will toward the police but is advocating for improvements in the way they handle escalation of force, tactics training and procedure.

The 100-degree mark in Salt Lake City on Friday was 21 above normal. But the heat was short-lived, and on Monday, Salt Lake City experienced a drastic temperature change with the high reaching only 55 -- some 20 degrees below normal. And some higher-elevation places outside of Salt Lake City even had some June snow on Monday.

“As for what the weather was outside the Utah State Capitol in Salt Lake City on Friday, the temperature topped out at 100 degrees at Salt Lake City International Airport on Friday," AccuWeather Meteorologist Derek Witt said, "so temperatures would have been in the 90s for much of the day.”

“Being that the temperature was 100 degrees and there was a fair amount of sunshine that day, those black shoes would have likely heated up to well over 100 degrees,” Witt said.

According to Witt, Winn could've been at risk for heatstroke or heat exhaustion, but multiple factors can determine whether either of those conditions will develop.

“This man was wearing his dress blues and standing outside for three hours in 90-degree-plus heat, so it is certainly possible that heat exhaustion could set in during that time. However, if his physical activity was limited to just standing or kneeling, then that could help prevent the onset of heat exhaustion,” Witt said.

Witt added that hydrating before Winn went to protest would have also helped. 

“Depends on the circumstances and the individual, as those with ongoing health issues and older folks are more at risk. Also, the man was a Marine, and Marines are tough," Witt said. "From what it sounds like, he never experienced any heat exhaustion or heatstroke.”

Additional reporting by Monica Danielle.

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