Opinion: What Being In The Kalamazoo Protest Showed Me

This past weekend Kalamazoo had the opportunity to show the world just what it was about. The Black Lives Matter protest over the death of George Floyd was held on Saturday at 6 p.m. and Kalamazoo came together in solidarity to express their anger and frustration surrounding his and many other deaths that have gone unchecked and lacked any justice.

Over the state you've heard a lot about protests that went great, and others that ended in looting and violence. Kalamazoo showed that above all else, that they not only would remain peaceful, yet would not allow for any kind of intimidating force push them to become violent. There's a big difference between being pissed off and being violently pissed off.

There was one moment during the protest where an intimidating force attempted to instigate and force their way into a crowd that had zero desire to harm anyone, but was absolutely willing to take a stand and protect those who constantly live in a world of fear. This city banded together and showed that force that intimidation and fear would not be tolerated, that love and unity would overcome, and it did.

There are many accounts of what really happened that day depending on who you talk to and who they are. One thing is for sure though, Kalamazoo's younger generation has proved a point. The point is that we will no longer stand idly by as more and more stories like George Floyd's continue to take place. There is something wrong with the way things are being handled and I think at the next protest, our officers at the KDPS should join us in marching.

They should lay down arms, and join us in showing the world that we are different. Because what happened at the Flint protests with their officers, can and should happen anywhere. I'm proud of the way we came together and will continue to come together peacefully in the future until real justice is served and real change is made. #BlackLivesMatter