MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Another day of protests kicked off in downtown Memphis on Sunday afternoon with a slightly different message about the Black Lives Matter movement.
Sunday’s protest focused more on educating people while spreading the message of peace, justice and equality.
The demonstration consisted of exercises focusing on racial inequalities in the workplace, the sports world, the school systems and racial profiling in public.
Several people spoke at the event, sharing their own personal experiences with racial inequality.
Joe Calhoun says he marched in the 1968 Memphis Sanitation Strike.
He says he is happy to see change happening but is disappointed he is marching for equality 50 years later.
“I was offended every time I hear white people say ‘well, our lives matter too,'” Calhoun said. “What we’re saying is black lives also matter. Not just that other people don’t matter. It’s there lives have always mattered and we want people to understand that black lives matter just as much.”
Local activist and pastor Devante Hill says the protests will continue to happen until changes have been made.
“…We’re doing more than just destroying systematic racism. We’re building a new culture out here,” Hill said.
WREG crews were following protesters when a group of woman driving by threatened to run protesters over multiple times. They quickly backed away and drove off as protesters began approaching the vehicle.
Earlier this week, Anthony Marcuzzo was charged after he allegedly drove his car into a group of protesters during a demonstration in the Cooper-Young area.
Hill says he will be holding another protest in ‘I Am A Man’ Plaza on Monday at 6:30 p.m.
He also says he plans to meet with Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland on Wednesday to go over different demands including dropping charges made against protesters arrested in past protests.
