SARASOTA – Hundreds of protesters marched the streets of Sarasota calling attention to the latest unarmed black man to be killed by a police officer using excessive force.
From the streets of downtown, to city hall protesters marched through square in the City of Sarasota before making their way to the historically African American community of Sarasota known as Newtown.
“There’s so much injustice not only with the killing and it’s so much but we don’t have the people in office that even care about it,” said Valerie Buchand.
Buchand, president of the Newtown Nation, says there are many injustices plaguing Newtown but the only real change will come when young voters take their power back at ballots and kick out the elected officials who don’t represent their community.
“The change got to come within Tallahassee because the police union has yet to even meet with the people, so why wont they come out?” said Buchand. “Why wont they meet with the people being that so much is happening?”
As the group moved forward down Dr. Martin Luther King Way,closing down the busy intersection, Shirley Smith a Newtown born & raised resident says she was glad to see people of different races come together. Like they once did during the civil right movement of the 60s.
Smith’s family has owned the Town Hall Restaurant & Lounge for more than 100 years. She says though all races were represented in the march she hopes she could see Sarasota Police Chief Bernadette Dipino walk alongside the protesters.
“I would love to see our Sarasota County Chief of Police Dipino march hand in hand in these protests for racism against – in this town against anybody. Black, white, Hispanic, anybody,” said Smith.
The group marched all the way to U.S. 301 and Dr. MLK Way calling attention the growing issue of racism within the local police.
