WHAT THEY’RE SAYING
Many members of the Miami Valley spoke to the Dayton Daily News during protest events across the area on Saturday.
“It’s easy to chant, it’s easy to say black lives matter, it’s easy to take a photo, it’s easy to post on social media that you were out here at this rally. It’s easy for you to never do it again after today and say I went. Or you can change your narrative. You can say, ‘I went and I thought about what it is I’m personally willing to give up. And when I went back to my community, I identified the individual who really should be gaining that attention for the work that they are doing,’ ... I want that to be the conversation you have with your family. What are we giving up so that who we are advocating for will gain?”
— Frederick Cox III, who attended the protest in Dayton
“I’m hoping that people will see that if we all come together, there will be more justice in the world and more equality. I realized that a lot of people around me are racists and my silence equals oppression, so I will no longer be silent. “
— Dawn Profitt of Dayton, who attended the protest in Dayton
“I felt like it was necessary for me to be here. I feel like my voice needed to be heard and I needed to make a stand for what’s right. We’re fed up with what’s going on. The only way were gonna make a change is to be out here on the streets. We’ve got to stand up for all injustice. We have to make changes here in America for black Americans and for anybody who’s suffered from police brutality and racism. I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished so far with this huge gathering of people of all races and colors. Everyone needs to stand up against the hate, racism and injustice.” — Brittany Rose of Trotwood, who attended the protest in Trotwood
“We have a great relationship with our community. This was evident. I heard a lot of support for our department. Obviously people were upset about the events that have occurred throughout the country and they chose to exercise their First Amendment right today, which we had no problem with.” — Erik Wilson, Trotwood police chief
“We’re here because we can no longer be silent about the injustice that’s happening throughout the country with police enforcement and how we treat black people in our country. We all must stand up. We can’t stand on the sidelines. We have to be active participants in social change.” — Yellow Springs Village Manager Josue Salmeron, who attended the protest in Yellow Springs
“We are allies. We want to stand with the black community. You know, we see what’s going on. At a certain point, you’ve just got to say, “Enough’s enough.” You can talk, you can post on Facebook, you can say how terrible it is among yourselves, but if you don’t act, you’re just speaking into a bubble. So for us, it’s putting action to words.” — Indiana resident Brady Latimer, formerly of Ohio, attended the protest in Yellow Springs
“I’m here to support Black Lives Matter and also to support this notion that we’re all human beings and we’re all Americans. Everyone deserves the same justice.” — Kane Stratton of Yellow Springs attended the protest in Yellow Springs