SARASOTA (WSNN) – On this Independence Day, two separate groups held rallies on Sarasota’s Bayfront with very different ideas on what this holiday means.
Black Lives Matter protesters gather alongside Sarasota Patriots at the Unconditional Surrender Statue on Saturday.
Protesters continue to stand up for Justice against George Floyd and also for Rodney Mitchell who died after being shot several times Sarasota County deputies.
Protesters say Mitchell was killed unjustifiably eight years ago in the Newtown Community.
And the Sarasota patriots hold their annual event of signing a replica of the Declaration of Independence.
“Today is kind of not a great time to be celebrating and I think it’s good, and I think it’s a good day for us to voice that it’s not exactly free in the country right now,” protester, Jeff Small, said.
“In the words of Frederick Douglass, ‘what is the Fourth of July to a Slave? It is not mine to celebrate, it is mine to mourn,'” protester, Michelle Grimsley, said.
“We have no problem with people protesting as long as people understand what they’re doing is stupid,” Sarasota patriot, Usamade Dakdok, said.
And others say they simply want to unite and have peace.
“I wish they would take some opportunity to listen here,” protester, Michele Rayner, said. “And I think that we have more in common than we have different, but we have to be willing to listen, and to work together.”
“I just wish that we would all come together and be united,” Sarasota patriot, Toni Kenner, said. “This is the United States and God Bless America and God Bless all of us; every single race.”
About 70 to 80 people show up at both events.
