Bay residents take to the streets against racism and injustice

A group of Bay Village residents gather along Wolf Road on June 3 to show their support for racial equality and justice. Photo by Denny Wendell

Around 40 people of all ages joined in the call to end police brutality and discrimination by staging a peaceful demonstration in front of the Bay Village Police Station on June 3. The group, organized on Facebook by the Bay Village Nasty Women, held signs proclaiming their support for racial equality and justice as they stood along Wolf Road. Passing motorists beeped their horns in solidarity and called out encouragement.

Bay resident Shirley Tomasello came out to be a voice against violence, holding a sign bearing the final words of George Floyd, an African-American man who was killed on May 25 during an arrest by Minneapolis police officers.

“I think it’s important because I think people need to stand up and say it’s not acceptable for the kind of abuse that goes on to continue and to say that silence is acceptance,” Tomasello said. “We have to stand up and change the culture that allows our fellow citizens to do such horrendous things so that it doesn’t happen again.”

As for her local police department, Tomasello said she has been pleased with their response to the wave of protests sweeping the nation.

“From what I know of the Bay Village Police Department, they’re pretty good. I saw an article the other day where [the Bay Police] wanted unity and they understood why people were protesting and they supported the First Amendment and I was really proud to hear that as a Bay resident.”

Fellow demonstrator Elizabeth Sweeney Milburn brought her 6-year-old daughter, Saige Jalovec, to the gathering. “I’m totally against racial discrimination and intolerance for any and all people,”Milburn said. “Black lives matter; we are totally upset as a community, as a nation and this is a way right now to show people how we feel. It starts at home and we’re going to continue the movement.”

The group plans a peaceful march on Friday, June 5, to continue protesting the death of George Floyd, and to raise awareness against racism and social injustice. Participants are asked to meet on the south side of Huntington Park at 5:30 p.m. The march will begin at 6 p.m. east down Lake Road to Cahoon Road, and south to Wolf Road, where marchers will lie down on the ground in silence for 9 minutes. The procession will then continue to the BVPD station.

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Volume 12, Issue 12, Posted 3:58 PM, 06.04.2020