The death of George Floyd in Minneapolis at the hands of a uniformed policeman has taken a toll on the nation. Protests, some peaceful and others violent, have occurred in many cities throughout the U.S.
One such protest – a peaceful one – was staged in Oak Park Sunday afternoon.
Sunday’s protest involved 100 or more people gathering to show the need for equality and for “bad apples” to be punished for their crimes.
Bree Nichelson spoke to the crowd using a bullhorn, to be heard over the wind. “I’m sure, as you know, some of the protests haven’t been so positive,” she said, “and I do not want to engage with that. All of Minot is looking towards us right now, and they are all expecting something from us. They expect us to be violent, they expect us to destroy. But I want to show them that we are here for love and support, to mourn George and our other brothers and sisters who we have lost to police brutality.”
The crowd clapped, showing their solidarity in wanting the same thing. As they stood, and sat at picnic tables and in the grass, signs were held in their laps, above their heads, in front of them, even on their face masks: “No justice, no peace,” “I can’t breathe,” “Black Lives Matter,” among the many messages.
Ciara Parizek/MDN A man originally from Boston attended the Minot protest with a sign that read, “From sea to shining sea, let me breathe,” with the tag, “blacklivesmatter.”
Antron Fogler, who moved to Minot from Miami, agreed that Minot could have a cool, calm and collected protest.
“It’s not just one fight. We’ll fight until we can get that done,” he said, referencing all-around equality. Not just for Minot, but for the country as a whole.
Making a difference and being heard are the main reasons for peaceful protests.
“If you don’t speak your truth and point out the problem with the system, it’s going to keep happening,” Fogler continued. “It’s a real shame that a man had to lose his life and can no longer breathe for this to happen.”
His words to the crowd were heard loud and clear. “If you have a chance, go make a difference.”
The Minot chapter of the Ice Cold Ryders Motorcycle Club was also present. Member Evan Hunt spoke about equality. “We are one nation and one community,” he said proudly. “It’s not about slavery. It’s not about what happened 100 years ago. It’s about finding common decency!”
“There’s only one race!” he yelled into the megaphone. “It’s the…” He paused and waited for the crowd to finish with a loud “Human Race!” He gestured in the air as he said “it shouldn’t be about white people, black people and Spanish people.”
Hunt said with strength that it was about all colors of the rainbow, white people, black people, yellow people, red people or green people, but not to refer to them as such. They are all brethren in one fight to live their best lives and help one another if times are tough or even if they need a helping hand with something simple like yard work.
Another member, the Minot Ice Cold Ryder’s president, said he was proud and humbled that so many people turned out for the protest Sunday.
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Source: Minot Daily News