A promise of peace and a march of solidarity at Black Lives Matter rally
Early Friday evening a police dog was sniffing around the entrance to Falls Park as Greenville Police officers lined the park's perimeter. The precautions came ahead of a Black Lives Matter peace rally planned less than 24 hours after a peaceful protest in Dallas, Texas was interrupted by deadly violence leaving five police officers dead.
The dog was a precaution for the people of all ages and races that gathered in the park. Many held signs, most wore black, and young children hunched over poster board with markers and wrote messages of support for the Black Lives Matter movement.
From the very beginning, leaders promised peace.
"Nobody wants violence. What happened last night was tragic. Nobody condones that, but we cannot continue to have the same thing happening to our people," said Bruce Wilson of Fighting Injustice Together, a local nonprofit. Wilson was referencing the deaths of black men at the hands of police officers across the country and specifically in Louisiana and Minnesota this week.
Wilson led scores of marchers from Falls Park up Main Street to NOMA Square then back down Main Street before turning down E. North Street, all without incident.
Matthew Merritt was on the sidewalk in front of the Westin Poinsett Hotel as the march passed. He stood with his fist raised in the air. His wife and young daughter did the same. They were downtown to catch the Lone Bellow concert behind the Peace Center, but when they saw the march, they stopped to show solidarity.
"We believe all lives matter, but not at the cost of black lives," Merritt said.
Demonstrators chanted "black lives matter" "all lives matter" and "we all bleed the same".
Tracy Lemon, a Greenville mother and grandmother led a group singalong of "all we are saying is give us a chance".
"I'm fearing for my grandbabies. I'm fearing for my son and my daughters. This must stop," Lemon said. "I'm fearing for my people."
Several police officers walked alongside the crowd, while others monitored side streets. Some officers could be seen running ahead of the march to divert traffic. When asked if they knew the route ahead of time, one Greenville police officer said they had no idea, but were doing all they could to keep up and keep traffic from intervening.
Police didn't intervene either. Officers watched as Wilson and about a dozen demonstrators led the rally through the crowds gathered in NOMA Square for Main Street Fridays where they took over the stage and microphone.
"I understand y'all are a little nervous. Don't be nervous, Don't be nervous. It's time for a change," announced one demonstrator from the stage. He followed with a promise to the crowd that their message would remain peaceful. It was a promise that became a theme at each stop along the route.
"You should be upset about [the violence] we've seen, and if you're not upset, shame on you," he yelled.
In the moments following, a protester began shouting about religious text, demonstrators took turns speaking about what the Black Lives Matter movement means to them, and moments of silence were held for the lives lost this week in Louisana, Minnesota and Dallas.
A young female college student joined rally leaders on stage to thank the community for coming together.
"I am extremely proud of this town. I'm extremely proud that we all could come together to make a difference," she said. "We're of all different races, all different, colors, religion, whatever you believe in, it's so important."
Organizers began spreading the word about Friday's rally on social media Thursday night. From the very beginning, leaders promised peace. It was a promise kept.
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