march-6-6-20

On the same day that would’ve been Breonna Taylor’s 27th birthday a march calling for justice was held in Washington. Taylor, an EMT in Louisville, Kentucky, was in her apartment when she was fatally shot by police officers who were executing a “no-knock” search warrant in March. The officers have been placed on leave, but haven’t been charged with any crimes. Black Lives Matter protests calling for justice have swept across the country since a police officer killed George Floyd in Minneapolis last week.

Locally on Friday night, mothers marched with their children, grandparents took part, some in the march walked with canes, and at least one Washington Police Officer in uniform joined the effort. Other officers helped by following in patrol vehicles with emergency lights on to alert motorists of pedestrians on the street.

Washington High School student Sami Harvey-Smith took part in the protest, “I have been called racial slurs before by my own classmates. And even though I’m not completely black, I’m mixed, but it’s still a part of my culture. So, I just feel that it’s my duty to share my voice.” Harvey-Smith says she hopes people learn from demonstrations like those that have been held in Washington, “[I hope] they learn to respect the black community and to take in, listen, and learn from it. And learn from their past mistakes.”

It marked the second march in three days around the town’s Central Park and downtown district. Chants of “No Justice, No Peace,” “I Can’t Breathe,” and “Hands Up, Don’t Shoot” could be heard echoing off of the buildings.