‘There’s no way to stop us’: Protesters begin march to D.C.
Day one of a long march that hopes to end in Washington, D.C., started across the street from Buy Right Auto Parts and Country Pump Bar in Caledonia on Tuesday.
“We've been marching, like, 20 miles a day for a while now, so why don't we have a destination that let's us know that we did something,” activist Frank Sensabaugh said. “That prepared us.”
Sensabaugh, also known as Frank Nitty, organized the march to coincide with the 57th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.'s famous “I Have A Dream” speech and the group hopes to arrive in the nation's capital by Aug. 28.
The march hopes to bring awareness to racial inequity and police brutality.
“Would (elected officials) change legislation because of this march? I doubt it,” Sensabaugh said. “But will they see and hear us from this march? They definitely will.”
A group of about 20 people gathered at Haas Park in Oak Creek and drove to the intersection of Ole Davidson Road and West Johnson Avenue in Caledonia to begin the nearly 750-mile march.
There were about five cars filled with food and supplies that drove ahead of the group at a low speed. Each marcher took their own precautions to make sure they were hydrated and comfortable to make the long walk.
Sensabaugh bought new shoes specifically for the march.
“There's no way to stop us,” Sensabaugh said. “We're not going back at all. This march is going to happen, the whole 750 miles. For me, it's like a roller coaster. Once you buckle up and get on, there's no way out until the end.”
Included in the group of marchers is Sensabaugh's 20-year-old son, Sebastian Taylor, who flew in from Las Vegas where he lives.
The farthest Sandy Solomon has ever walked or ran in a single attempt was a 5K race.
Solomon said she decided to join the march because her friend, Antonio Gonzalez, was killed by a Wauwatosa police officer in 2015.
“We need a change, we need equality, it's long overdue,” Solomon said. “We're going to Washington for the 57th anniversary for Martin Luther King's speech. It's going to be a celebration but at the same time we need to get some business done.”