Peaceful Black Lives Matter Demonstration Held In Century (With Photo Gallery)

June 8, 2020

A peaceful Black Lives Matter demonstration was held Sunday along North Century Boulevard.

A few dozen people lined the sidewalks at the Nadine McCaw Park, commonly called Roadside Park, holding mostly homemade signs with statements that included “Black Lives Matter’, “Stop Killin’ Us”, “End Systemic Racism”, “When They See Us, Am I Next?”, “I Cant’ Breathe”, and “1 Band, 1 Sound”.

They waved at passing traffic during the demonstration, and many drivers double-honked their horns in support after seeing a sign that said “Honk Twice for Black Lives Matter”.

One demonstrator said the group was not protesting against law enforcement.

Several people stopped by and donated food and water to the group.

For more photos, click here.

NorthEscambia.com photos by William Reynolds, click to enlarge.

Comments

21 Responses to “Peaceful Black Lives Matter Demonstration Held In Century (With Photo Gallery)”

  1. The real just saying on June 9th, 2020 7:19 pm

    The best explanation I’ve heard to those that shout black likes matter and those that argue all lives matter is this.

    Yes. All lives matter but saying black lives matter is not an exclusion of the other races.

    The fire department is concerned about all houses. All houses matter but they only go to the ones on fire. With the problems facing the black community from racism to unemployment and even crime their house is on fire.

  2. Just saying on June 9th, 2020 1:04 pm

    @Bewildered…. This is where the supporters become mythical like… Don’t expect an intelligent supporting response because there isn’t one… Black lives seem to only matter when it fits a biased narrative… All lives matter all the time…

  3. Tom on June 9th, 2020 12:57 pm

    agree with bewildered.

  4. Bewildered on June 9th, 2020 5:11 am

    I am reading all these comments hoping that maybe just one person will address and explain why black lives only matter when it is a white on black crime. While all these protests/riots are going on numerous black (and white) people have been killed. Some because of the riots and others in “normal” day to day crimes. These horrible killings barely get reported casually – like it is an expected everyday occurrence.
    Why does the black community not demand that drug shootings, gang killings are plastered in big letters all over and kept in the news for weeks to get attention?

  5. Jessica Coleman on June 8th, 2020 10:47 pm

    Black lives matter. Allow me to share words by American Hero Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.:
    “Hate begets hate; violence begets violence; toughness begets a greater toughness. We must meet the forces of hate with the power of love… Our aim must never be to defeat or humiliate the white man, but to win his friendship and understanding.”
    To my black community: you have won my friendship, loyalty, love, and prayers. Since Rev. Dr. MLK, Jr, these brown and black brothers and sisters have asked for the white man or woman’s hand in friendship. Now it’s your turn to ask for the black community’s friendship. They deserve our friendship AND OUR TOTAL SUPPORT. They deserve better than this nation they were given. If white privilege doesn’t exist, then why are any of you who are opposed to BLM so scared to lose it?

  6. pencil on June 8th, 2020 10:41 pm

    Do you crash strangers’ funerals shouting “I TOO HAVE FELT LOSS!”

    Do you run through a cancer fundraiser saying “THERE ARE OTHER DISEASES TOO!”

  7. Kci on June 8th, 2020 7:48 pm

    Anyone who doesn’t understand what Black Lives Matter means at this point, just have no intention on changing their thought process. So what we have to do is just leave those who are ignorant to the BLM movement behind. When you see a Black man killed in front of a camera, there should be no human being alive to think that those actions are acceptable. Black Lives do Matter and the world is watching the United States treat black men and women as less than human.

  8. j on June 8th, 2020 7:38 pm

    I heard this explained in a great way … the person said “right after hurricane katrina, if I had said ‘new orleans matters’ would you have responded with ‘all cities matter?’ No one is saying your life doesn’t matter. Of course all lives matter, but saying that doesn’t bring any attention to the issue at hand.

  9. Chad Bertie on June 8th, 2020 7:19 pm

    Will be interesting to see these communities handle crime on their own as BLM demands politicians abolish the police. Will be interesting to watch Minneapolis with no police force. Wonder if any investors will invest there? I wonder if any minority business owners will just allow thieves to steal their store away since there will be no police there to arrest them. I wonder if all these protesters will never call 911 again and simply handle problems on their own? Please do and save us taxpayers some money. Thanks

  10. BLM on June 8th, 2020 5:50 pm

    Black Lives Matter … Am i next ???, my skin is not a crime !!! I CANT BREATHE Hes just another thug … Yes All lives matter but blacks live are the ones who get stereotyped the most, We are all children of god bleed the same blood. We As African American Should Have Our GOD Given Right Of Life, Liberty & The Pursuit Of Happiness – God Bless Us BLM

  11. just sayin on June 8th, 2020 3:54 pm

    This is all just so sad and a shame. America has so much potential to be the greatest place on the planet but we are destroying ourselves from within one day at a time.

  12. Reality Check on June 8th, 2020 3:10 pm

    Where do any of the signs being displayed say “only black lives matter”? “All Lives Matter” didn’t seem to matter much when people were asked to wear masks in public to slow the spread of Covid-19.

    Suppose a mother, father, daughter, and son are eating dinner one night. Except the son doesn’t have any food in front of him. He says, “I need food”. Everyone else’s at the table responds with “we all need food”. Yeah, that’s true, but it still hasn’t fixed the issue the son doesn’t have any food.

    “Save the whales” didn’t mean to neglect all the other marine life.

    Imagine telling Jesus after he says “blessed are the poor”…..”No Jesus, blessed are ALL the people.”.

    I don’t know how I can make it any more simple for simple minded people that utter the ignorant response of “All Lives Matter”. If you really believe that, then maybe you should do something about how all people are treated, because right now that stupid phrase isn’t true. That was evident just a few weeks ago when people decided other’s health and safety didn’t matter.

    Enlighten yourselves a little bit and maybe try addressing the glaring grievances that our minority communities are facing.

  13. Rebecca Tims on June 8th, 2020 2:56 pm

    Yes all lives matter but as this point of time being black and killed for nothing for no reason for nothing and being raised in a racist world. You get sick and tried of seeing your people killed for the color of our skins. We only trying to get the world to see that, that’s it, that all. No one is blind to fact this been going on all our life..So if you feel some tyoe of way, that your feeling allow us to feel freedom too.

  14. Bethany on June 8th, 2020 2:53 pm

    You people who are screaming “All Lives Matter” just don’t get it. YES!!! ALL LIVES MATTER!!! But at this time of crisis that Black Lives are going thru we have to make there lives matter to make ALL LIVES MATTER we have to make BLACK LIVES MATTER. You people dnt see what the BLACKS are going thru. They have it 100 times worse than us. And we all are children of GOD. So I stand with and support my sisters and Brothers. So with that being said BLACK LIVES MATTER!!!!!!

  15. terri on June 8th, 2020 1:56 pm

    Yes is it hurtful to say All Life Matters….only Black Life Matters…does Asian Life Matter as much as the other Life Matters and what about Mexican Life Maatter also If you born of mix cultures…where does this Matter…should I carry a sign saying only one side of me Matters……where does that leave the other side…

  16. Listening on June 8th, 2020 12:27 pm

    all lives can not matter until black lives do. i’m listening, i hear you, and i support you

  17. Bewildered on June 8th, 2020 12:26 pm

    Their lives matter, yes – please let this movement start within your communities. While all this protesting is going on, the gun/drug violence continues.

  18. Love and support on June 8th, 2020 12:22 pm

    @tee bug and @ jeff

    If my wife comes to me in pain and asks “Do you love me?”, an answer of “I love everyone” would be truthful, but also hurtful and cruel in moment. If a co-worker comes to me upset and says “My father just died,” a response of “Everyone’s parents die,” would be truthful, but hurtful and cruel in the moment. So when a friend speaks up in a time of obvious pain and hurt and says “Black lives matter,” a response of “All lives matter,” is truthful. But it’s hurtful and cruel in the moment”. -Doug Williford

  19. Nod on June 8th, 2020 12:08 pm

    does my life matter?

  20. Tee bug on June 8th, 2020 10:21 am

    We are all humans so all lives matter.

  21. Jeff on June 8th, 2020 10:04 am

    All lives matter….