I went to a Black Lives Matter Protest, and It Wasn't How National Headlines have been Portraying It

With all of the different things happening in the world recently, recent headlines have been the death of George Floyd by police in Minnesota, and the protests, rallies, and riots that have followed on different avenues since. Now living in the moderately sized town of 40,000 people, it wasn't an impossibility that a protest would occur in our city, and they didn't have a reason not to.

The death of George Floyd, regardless of actions described, did not equate to this man losing his life; not because of his color, but because he is a human being. I am not saying that he was treated in the same manner as how a white man would be treated, or that the police would or wouldn't have done what they did in a different scenario. I know that some police officers discriminate and treat black people differently. I have heard personal stories of friends and co-workers and their encounters of being picked out and treated differently because of their skin tone. There will always be bad people in every level of our lives somewhere and at some time; whether that being politically, in a medical profession, academically, or a neighbor. This is not just a police problem, but a humanity problem and a sin problem.

Mural painted by Jennifer Bock-Nelson

When I heard that there was going to be a protest in town, I knew I wanted to go. I knew that I wanted to show my support that black lives should be treated equally and with respect; that I was with my community and supported them; that I could watch, listen and learn from those around me regarding this protest and the race issues surrounding it which unfortunately have not gone away since the dream and tragic assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.

The protest occurred in Washington Square with 100's of people who came to show their support for black lives and the injustices in every aspect of their lives caused by symbolic, systemic, and modern-day racism. The entire event was peaceful, unlike what national media and news outlets have been portraying regarding the Black Lives Matter protests, rallies, and riots whether affiliated or not with the movement. This event was organized by locals: Radiance Oliver, Tiria Humphrey, Shawn Jones, and Jessica Benton. They had several speakers, a poem reading, a song, and a prayer before beautifully wrapping it up by having a march from the park to city hall and back while being escorted by the local police and squad cars.

They brought the community together with a common goal of making sure that black voices and problems were being heard which I think often get lost in society. We must make a difference because if we acknowledge such a thing and don't change it, we become part of the problem and promote such things when we don't speak up or change our actions.

By coming together, learning, and by having uncomfortable conversations, we can change the future because we are aware of the problem; we are making a difference and we are promoting peace and justice.