MAUMEE, Ohio — Saturday marks a week since the protests in the wake of George Floyd's death started in the Toledo area.
“It’s huge because it’s a small community and we base everything off of being a small community and having a big family and if we’re spreading hate among that family, then it’s not a family at all," protester Francesca Khanga said.
As many as 400 people showed up to a Black Lives Matter protest in Maumee Friday afternoon.
It’s a community made up of 95 percent white people, according to the last census, and organizers weren’t sure what to expect.
“This looks amazing and even if there were just 10 people, that’s a voice that we can still use," Khanga said.
Organizers focused on the importance of allyship in the movement and how those who aren’t black can help elevate the voices of people who are. One of the ways they did that was by turning over the megaphone to anyone in attendance
Jessica Bacynski was just one of the people in the crowd who identifies as an ally. Even with the heat and the timing of the demonstration, she says it’s vital that people of all backgrounds come together.
“You need to be out there no excuses. It doesn’t matter if it’s hot or raining. Black people live it every day, they have no breaks," Bacynski said.
The protest lasted two hours until some thunderstorms rolled through.
Across Toledo in Point Place, another demonstration started at 7.
Organizers were happy that a couple of dozen people turned out after saying they experienced threats on social media.
“They’ve been very vocal of it but haven’t been very accepting of it at all actually," organizer Alexander Pellizzari said.
More protests are scheduled for the weekend in northwest Ohio.
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