by Freeda Cathcart
There’s been a protest almost everyday in the Roanoke region since May 30 to support the Black Lives Matter movement and often more than one protest in multiple locations. More and more diverse voices are speaking out against police brutality.
These protests include a Black Lives Matter bicycle ride by over 50 White people through downtown Roanoke and the Gainsboro neighborhoods, a Caravan For Justice with over 20 decorated cars flashing their lights and beeping their horns along Route 419 in Roanoke County; protests in Blacksburg, Christiansburg, and Stuart have taken place and more are being planned as the movement continues to grow.
On Sunday, June 14, over 50 people gathered in a church in Covington, VA to pray before they took the streets with police escort to City Hall and then to the courthouse. These protesters were led by Zee and Richard Turner. The Mayor, Sheriff and Chair of the School Board spoke about the importance of protecting all lives but the need to focus on Black Lives Matter to prevent tragedies like George Floyd.
Robert Short read the people’s demands for Virginia’s General Assembly:
“We the people of the Commonwealth of Virginia, considering the actions of certain Law Enforcement Officers across the Country, demand the General Assembly Redress our Grievances by passing legislation to do the following. Require all Law Enforcement Agencies in the Commonwealth to report any use of force within 24 hours of its use;
Create an independent Law Enforcement Agency and Prosecutor’s Office to investigate allegations of criminal activity and misconduct against any Law Enforcement or CA employees in the Commonwealth; Require that all LEO’s in the Commonwealth carry malpractice insurance and Personal Liability Insurance, paid for by the LEO personally; Increase in salary for all LEO’s to cover the average cost of Insurance; An end to cash bail; Prohibit local Law Enforcement Agencies participation in the 1033 Program; Require a criminal conviction to being Civil Forfeiture proceedings, and ban the acceptance of civil forfeiture proceeds from any other agency unless accompanied by a criminal conviction; Require that all officers involved in an arrest, or dealing with the public in an official manner, have clearly displayed Name, Agency, Identification number, and provide all this information to anyone who requests it with refusal to do so grounds for dismissal and require that all fines be assessed based on the individual’s income and ability to pay.”
