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Black Lives Matter holds downtown event

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Locally, people are letting their voices be heard in a Black Lives Matter protest that was held downtown. They called the event the Black Lives Matter March. They met at the City Market and marched to IMPD’s headquarters, then back to the City Market. Dozens of people showed up to support the cause. It was a diverse crowd, all unified for one reason.

They came with their protest signs, matching t-shirts and megaphones.  It was a peaceful protest with a message that was loud and clear.

“We’re out here to stand in solidarity and to bring awareness about the injustices that black people go through,” said Miriam Kerry.

Ethan Evans added, “We had the civil rights movement and this is the new civil rights movement.”

It’s a movement they feel is especially important after recent police involved shootings in Charlotte, North Carolina and Tulsa, Oklahoma. But, they said it’s about much more than these two incidents.

“Many times they’re back to back to back. They’re one right after another. So, it’s not just one single incident that has spawned today’s event,” said Rekiah Boyd.

“They deserve equal justice the same way as white people have gotten equal justice throughout the whole history of this country,” said Evans.

When asked how they felt about the violence against officers, Kerry said she doesn’t condone violence.  However, she said, “That’s a job they signed up for. Me being black is not something I signed up for and I shouldn’t be looked at different because you have an issue with a black person on the street. It’s racism. That’s a job they signed up for.”

Kerry said it’s just a matter of time, before we’re facing the same issues head on, “Indianapolis, we haven’t had an uprising yet. But, that doesn’t mean we won’t have one in the future.”

And that’s why, they said, they’re protesting; to put an end to the violence.

“We’re trying to get these issues that were swept under the rug, brought back up so that we don’t have to deal with them in the future generations,” said Evans.

There were no counter protests during the event. The group also collected signatures for their Equity or Else petition.