About 35 people gathered in Court Square听on Saturday [May 23, 2015]听 for a听vigil听protesting the deaths of young black men that has made news in Baltimore, New York and other cities across the country over the last year.
Jodie Geddes, a graduate student at 草莓社区 who is attending the [SPI], helped organize the event with help from the and . She said Americans shouldn鈥檛听turn a blind eye to events.
鈥淚f something happens in my hometown in New York, I carry it with me,鈥� she said. 鈥淲hen something happens in Burundi or any other country, we can feel that.鈥�
Stan Maclin, leader of the of Virginia Organizing, called the number of high-profile confrontations between black men and police 鈥渁larming.鈥�
鈥淚t will continue to get out of hand like it did in the 鈥�60s,鈥� he said. 鈥淎 lot of people say, 鈥楧on鈥檛 talk about the past鈥欌�� we need to talk about it.鈥�
Maclin said the only way to bring about change is for everyone to stand together听regardless of skin color.
鈥淭hat won鈥檛 happen if we don鈥檛 come together like we are today,鈥� he said.
Oscar Apesough, a Harrisonburg resident from Nigeria [who also attended SPI], said he attended the听vigil听because he wants to find 鈥渨ays we can support the idea of working through this.鈥�
Apesough said civic organizations should work together with law enforcement to restore community relations and maintain peace.
鈥淚t should be peaceful,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t shouldn鈥檛 be violent.鈥�
Courtesy of the Daily听News-Record听