Nearly 1,000 community members came out from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday to participate in a second #BlackLivesMatter protest in Monfort Park.
The event follows Friday evening’s large gathering where black community members stood up to tell their stories of racial injustice that they’ve experienced in the city.
While Saturday’s event consisted of more stories, chanting and showing of support from community members of all races, protestors this time took to the street to march along 47th up to 26th Street, across 47th Street and back down to 20th Street.
Joshua Greer, 21, University of Northern Colorado’s Black Student Union president, helped organize both Friday and Saturday’s events.
“People don’t realize that this has affected people everywhere; it’s affected black lives,” Greer said. “I’ve been fighting this my whole life and people are here ready to fight it, too. People are sick of this system that has been in place, people are sick of hate. This is a step that shows people are ready to dismantle the system that’s in place and get justice for everybody.”
As the long line of protestors carrying signs walked along 47th chanting “Whose lives matter? Black lives matter” and “No justice, no peace,” cars driving by slowed to honk their horns while passengers held their fists out the window as a show of solidarity for the group.
“I think all lives matter and black lives matter as well. An injustice has been going on for a long time and it should change,” Greeley resident Art Long said. “I hope this isn’t political; I hope that this is a movement out of love and not one side or another.”
Bob Stack with the Court House Steps group also showed support for the cause on Saturday by hosting a protest at the courthouse in downtown Greeley.
Around 18 people marched up 9th Street to 8th Street to 8th Avenue and back to the courthouse holding signs and chanting.
“This has been our best march in 41 straight months,” Stack said. “Our purpose is to be visible and keep key issues in front of everyone. We give people a voice, who want to do something and get out.”
As the group marched, people stopped to thank them while cars honked their horns as they drove by, he said.
Stack also attended the protest in Monfort Park.
“It was very well organized and the crowd was energetic and respectful,” Stack commented. “I got excited and fired up. There were so many good people there.”
Stack spoke to the group about “what is your takeaway for yourself today” and urged protesters to continue to press on, taking their experience to friends, their mayor and city council members as well as to their elected state and U.S. officials.
“I’ve been around this block enough to know just feeling good and marching has been a short-lived thing,” he said. “Don’t stop with one try, make today carry on.”
The demonstration wrapped up in the park a little after 1 p.m. with cheering and hugs all around before people dispersed, heading to their cars.
