We arrrived at the location for the rally a little early. Leawood is a suburb of Kansas City, far from the inner city or any apparent danger. No one was there and we worried that we had the wrong place, but people started to arrived gradually. Most of the protestors were white, but we still felt out of place since we didn’t have any signs or anything to tell what we were rooting for.
This was a smaller rally of about 30 people and relatively peaceful. There were more white people than black, which surprised me, but some of people said if the white people weren’t there, people would call the police. Some people honked their support for us as they drove by, a few displayed gestures (good and bad), and others just drove on by. It moved me when a black person would drive by and smile, or raise their fist in the air or just shake their head yes.
We only had one incident where 2 people argued and it was brief. Especially since I didn’t have a sign, I thought I should say something and it seemed like the right time.
I spoke to four of the adults directly. There was a college kid standing by himself that appeared confident and serene. The postal worker was near us and spoke to us throughout the night. Down the sidewalk, was a dad of 4 girls. I remember one of the girl’s signs said, “Don’t shoot me.” Then there was a bigger group of people of all ages, mostly girls. To each of them, I started by saying, “I’m sorry.”
It seemd to register in their eyes, but it didn’t seem like enough.
I continued, “But, I’m tyring hard to understand…and I’m learning a lot…and, I’m trying to share what I learn.”
Later, many of the people there said, “I wish we were not in the Covid crisis, so we could hug.”
The most emotional moment when we took a knee for 8 minutes and 46 seconds to honor George Floyd. It was difnitely a moment of solidarity. I felt a unity with the folks gathered there. It was uniquely peaceful. Even the cars that went by seemed a littler quieter as we knelt together.
It felt good to contribute and learn something new and experience community!
Although our rally was relatively safe and calm and predictable, it still accomplished a lot. It is not always the gradiose gestures that make the most impact. Often, it’s the little things that make a big differerce.
I’m hoping I can contiuue to learn and contribute.
Black Lives Matter. No Justice, No Peace
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