People lined both sides of one of the busiest intersections in Longmont Friday afternoon to celebrate Juneteenth and to hold their fists high and yell their support for the Black Lives Matter movement.
As many as 80 to 100 people through the afternoon joined the demonstration at Sixth Avenue and Main Street. Most held signs and swore allegiance to changing how police and society deal with African Americans and other minorities.
Most motorists showed their support for the demonstrators by honking horns and raising their own fists in solidarity. There was no police presence and no counter protests.
The turnout heartened Longmont resident Hermine Ngnomire, who organized the event for In Defense of Black Lives.
“I’ve never been more proud of being a Coloradan or of being a Longmonter than now,” Ngnomire told the crowd.
Later, Ngnomire said street protests are important if they lead to reforms in American society.
“What we have to do now is work on policy,” she said. “And it has to be done sooner than later. We have waited too long.”
Ngnomire said some attitudes and policies are changing toward minorities. Activists have met with Longmont police and school officials, while meetings with other local officials are planned to deal with issues concerning the minority community.
She said a top priority is to reshape the role of police in Longmont and elsewhere. Police have for too long dealt with housing and health issues that are not part of their jobs, she said.
“We’ve given them (police) too darn much to do,” Ngnomire said. “We now have to build community partnerships. We have to go the community route.”
Friday’s demonstration was especially important since it marked the emancipation of slaves in Galveston, Texas, on June 19, 1865, Ngnomire said. African American activists have lobbied for Juneteenth to become a federal holiday.
Today, 47 states and the District of Columbia acknowledge Juneteenth as a state holiday or special day of observance, usually on the third Saturday in June, according to Microsoft News.
Ngnomire lobbied the crowd to keep demonstrating to force change.
“It all begins with you. It is how we change our future,” Ngnomire told the demonstrators who encircled her. “You are making history.”
As she spoke, she locked eyes with 16-year-old Anna Hart and her 15-year-old brother, Jon. Both rode their skateboards to the demonstration to voice their support for Black Lives Matter, Anna said.
“We just wanted to raise awareness,” Anna said. “We were hoping to inspire people to support Black Lives.”
Some signs carried the names of African Americans killed in police custody or because of police actions, while others called for defunding police departments.
Neian Corr and her 8-year-old daughter, Lilah Corr, both held Black Lives Matter signs designed by Lilah.
“I just thought it was so important that we be out here,” Neian Corr said. “It is just time for people to speak up. We have to do something to change things.”
