The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
PASSIONATE PLEADING
Local protest brings hundreds together
Horns honked as the sun beat down on the necks and backs of protestors in Avon. With a temperature somewhere in the 80s, protesters’ sweat dripped down their faces as they held up signs and chanted out the names of those who lost their lives to police brutality.
“Say his name,” said Katie Lehoty, an 18-year-old protester with a megaphone.
“George Floyd,” the crowd responded.”
“Say her name,” said Lehoty.
“Breonna Taylor,” the crow replied.
The City of Avon police announced in a Facebook post on Thursday a peaceful protest was being held from 1:45 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on June 6.
On the corner of State Route 83 and Detroit Rd., people of all shapes, sizes, ages and color tried to initiate change.
“There’s a problem in our society and right now I feel like everyone’s voices are being heard.”
— Matthew Munson, 30
Some wanted to show solidarity with the Black community.
For Matthew Munson, 30, the protest gave him a chance to share his personal views on police brutality.
“There’s a problem in our society and right now I feel like everyone’s voices are being heard,” Munson said.
Munson, who’s taken part in three protests over the past two weeks, said he was impressed with the organization and strategic planning of the protest.
“This is one of the better protests I’ve been to. This one is unique in that it’s going to one of the busier intersections and they’re letting cars go by. Cars are looking at the signs and you can reach more people,” Munson said.
“There’s too many people who feel like it’s all right to not be racist. People need to be anti racist. They need to confront racism.”
Although Munson said he doesn’t see police brutality in Lorain County often, he said he feels like it’s a problem throughout the nation.
“It might be less of a problem here than somewhere else but it’s a problem everywhere,” Munson said.
Lorain resident Savannah Bauer, 20, said she believes there’s a strong presence
of racism in this country.
“There’s clearly an issue of systematic racism and people believing stereotypes,” Bauer said.
During the protest, Bauer said she wanted to focus on the violence against black people, and the violence inflicted on unarmed people.
“This was my first protest ever and it was great to see so many people. It was encouraging,” Bauer said.
During a tribute to George Floyd at 3:47 p.m. protesters took a knee in silence to honor him.
Shortly afterwards, Firefighters from the North Ridgeville Fire Department, honked and waved to support the protestors.
The chanting continued as cars honked and recognized the actions of protestors. Bauer took a sip of water, walked to the edge of the sidewalk and chanted.
“Black Lives Matter,” Bauer said. “Rest in power.”