Kyle McCarty
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In response to the killing of Michael Brown by a police officer in Ferguson, Missouri, a protest was organized in the streets of downtown San Luis Obispo on Friday night, before the city’s annual holiday parade.
Protestors marched in response to other instances of violent policing, including the death of Eric Garner, who was put in a chokehold by an officer in New York.
Approximately 40 protesters marched down Higuera Street, making a loop of downtown. Holding signs and chanting slogans such as “No justice, no peace” and “Black lives matter,” protesters expressed their frustration with instances of violent policing in the last few months.
See the march and hear from one participant:
Video by Leah Horner/Mustang News
Protesters interviewed during the march expressed a desire to raise awareness of the issue and to speak out against police violence.
“There’s been four killings in the last three months of people who didn’t need to die, who weren’t obviously aggressing against the police,” said George Libby, a San Luis Obispo resident.
Cameron Olson, a computer science senior, said he came to the march after seeing the video of Eric Garner in a chokehold and because he sees systematic flaws in the nation’s justice system.
“Seeing this protest going on, I realized that there was a chance for me to do something to make a difference, something to make things better, rather than just sitting down and thinking about it,” Olson said.
The event was organized by word of mouth and over Facebook by graphic communication freshman Salvador Rubio and his neighbor. Rubio said he made the event to counter apathy on campus.
“Seeing a sense of apathy on campus,” said Rubio, “a lot of people are willing to complain about what’s wrong with the conservative, predominantly white culture of San Luis Obispo, but they’re not willing to try to change anything.”
Expression in the wake of violent policing was on his mind as well.
“There’s been a lot of police brutality, especially since Ferguson and violence against people of color and we just felt that we needed to be heard by the county, to let people know how we feel in a peaceful manner,” Rubio said.
Rubio was pleased with the turnout and said he and others involved in organizing the demonstration plan to hold more events in the future.
Watch SLOPD Capt. Staley Comment on the Ferguson grand jury report:
Video by Leah Horner/Mustang News
The marchers continued until 7 p.m., when police formed a line of cars and motorcycles and slowly advanced towards the protest. Some protesters held up their hands, while others hesitated momentarily. As the police continued advancing, the protesters dispersed and the holiday parade began.