Protesters gather in South Bend demanding justice for George Floyd

NOW: Protesters gather in South Bend demanding justice for George Floyd

The protest began at 12 p.m. and was organized by Tre'von Prowell. Protesters plan on walking from the Morris Performing Arts Center to the entrance of Howard Park.

Protesters could be heard chanting "No Justice, No Peace" as they made their way to Howard Park.

George Floyd is an African American man who died following an encounter with a white police officer who knelt on his neck for more than 7 minutes.

Although protesters already arrived at Howard Park, they continued to march through the City of South Bend as more and more people are getting involved. 

Around 1:45 p.m. protesters began to disperse. The protest overall was peaceful and without incident.

By approximately 2 p.m. the protest came to an end.

Photo via Malaak Khattab

Photo via Malaak Khattab

Photo via Malaak Khattab

Photo via Malaak Khattab

Photo via Malaak Khattab

Photo via Malaak Khattab

ST.JOSEPH COUNTY, Ind. -- Hundreds of demonstrators gathered at the Morris Performing Arts Center in downtown South Bend Saturday afternoon to show solidarity for George Floyd, who died in the hands of a Minneapolis police earlier this week, and for the social injustice across the country.

"Yes, we’re being looked at, but it’s been this way our entire lives. We can’t erase the color of our skin. Some people have an advantage and we don’t, and if they don't use their privilege to flip this negative into a positive, or to make an impact somewhere, then, you’re not doing anything,” Sarah Taylor a protester at the rally said. 

Trey’von Prowell, one of the organizers of Saturday’s event said the issue of racism has been prevalent in his life since he was a kid.

“Sometimes when I wake up in the morning, I feel like I was just born with a target on my back and I feel like someone’s bound to watch me or make me feel like I don’t belong,” Prowell said. 

People held up signs calling for change and chanted as they marched the streets. Organizers saying they didn’t expect such a large crowd.

“Young people come into this movement. They can give us energy and they can motivate us to get back in that fight. There’s a lot of people I’ve never seen out here, whole other hundreds, all different races. All different walks of life,” Regina Williams-Preston, a member of the Black Lives Matter in South Bend said. 

People from all different backgrounds came out to the march to not only show their support for fellow minorities but to also show that injustice is more just a black and white matter.

"This is not just a black-white issue. Latinos are part of the social fabric of America, we helped build this country just like everybody else and we want to make sure that Latinos are represented in the conversation and we want to make sure we see them and we agree that we want to build a better country together,” Paloma Garcia Lopez, a protester of the rally said. 

 

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