MADISON, Wis. (SPECTRUM NEWS) - Thousands of protesters marched to the capitol to support unity and the Black Lives Matter movement.
Sunday evening was the end of Madison’s second weekend of protests after the death of George Floyd. It was likely the largest protest of the last week.
It started with a quiet prayer, surrounded by sound. Pastors Marcus Allen and David Hart prepared to lead their community in the Finishing The Work Solidarity March.
Organized by the African American Council of Churches, faith leaders of different ethnicities, different denominations, and different religions held the Black Lives Matter banner at the front of the march.
“That’s something that we’ve been asking for. Not just the Black church, not just the oppressed,” said Allen, who's the pastor of Mt. Zion Baptist Church. “Different churches that have been willing to say ‘hey we stand with you all on this, we support you all, and we support justice’.”
Religion has always played a huge part in social change. In the ‘60s, nuns marched for civil rights. “From the beginning of our time here in America, the only way that we got things moved from a social perspective is from the church,” said Hart. He's the pastor at Sherman Avenue United Methodist Church.
“The women’s rights movement, at least in the Black community, started in the church. Equal rights started in the church,” Hart said. “We have played a huge role, and here we are once again.”
The huge crowd met at the corner of Park Street and University Avenue. At least 80 percent were wearing masks, some had sweaty hands under disposable gloves.
Allen spoke from a pedestrian bridge above the street before the march began. “It is the responsibility of God’s people to resemble unity,” he yelled through the megaphone to a roar of cheers.
This was likely the biggest, most diverse crowd of the last week. “It’s just amazing to see so many people out here peacefully, standing together and preparing to march together against injustice,” Allen said.
They walked together. They stopped together after every eight minutes and 46 seconds. The same amount of time George Floyd had a knee on his neck.
“I was born and raised here. When somebody in this community bleeds, or they’re hurt, we’re all hurting,” said Hart. “And right now, it’s the African American community. And I’m glad that they’re here for us and supporting us.”
Some Madison police officers were invited and attended, including Acting Police Chief Vic Wahl. So was Dane County District Attorney Ishmael Ozanne. He said the last two weeks has made the people in this office reflect on their role in society. “We’ve been talking about disparities, we’ve been talking about what really needs to happen so hopefully everybody can have their piece of the American dream,” he said. “Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness is a big part of that.”
“We look at everything that we’re doing. We put out an equity and inclusion plan, we talk about trying to treat everybody with dignity and justice and fairness and have transparency,” said Ozanne. He said the restorative justice program holds great potential for people in the criminal justice system. “We’re looking at how to try and figure out how to best foster change in people. Most people in our community really want to make sure the offense never happens again, that restitution or the victims are made whole, and that person has an opportunity for a second chance.”
Ultimately the crowd ended up at the capitol, pushing for change. “God is the only one that can change hearts,” said Allen. “But we gotta be willing to change systems.”
Allen said it feels like something is going to change, for real this time. “African Americans, Black people have been oppressed for so long in this nation. We’ve seen the systemic racism that we’ve been faced with so much,” Allen said. “To see the change around the country, the mood is changing, it’s shifting.”
“We’re just not saying Black lives are the only lives that matter,” Allen said. “But all lives can’t matter until Black lives matter.”