Protests continue in Milwaukee for sixth day
MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- A march for justice for George Floyd is planned in Milwaukee Wednesday, May 3. Demonstrators started their march at the Islamic Society of Milwaukee, located at 4707 South 13th Street.
One of the organizers told CBS 58 the coming together of people from all backgrounds and races is powerful.
"After this all ends and after the hashtags end, the black community is gonna continue to face the same struggles that they've been facing. And I hope that more of us can be there, even behind the scenes, even behind, when there's no cameras, no hashtags, to continue to do the good work and continue to stand for justice," said Imam Noman Hussain, Islamic Society of Milwaukee.
Hundreds came out to show their support. The crowds converging have been mostly young, in their 20s and early 30s. Hundreds of them from all backgrounds, races and religions.
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The peaceful protesters -- deemed millennials -- are the ones who are mostly populating the marches from the north side, to the east side, to downtown and from the early afternoons late into the nights.
Organizers say it's up to them to work together. They've tried calling for change - and now they need to make it happen.
"I wear a skin that gives me fear and it shouldn’t, and that’s why we’re out here doing what we’re doing because my skin shouldn’t be the reason that I’m afraid to go out, or afraid to interact with law-enforcement, or when I get pulled over I shouldn’t be afraid because my ID says that I am black or that my skin reads that I’m a person of color,” said protest organizer Thomas Franecki. "I shouldn’t be afraid of all that so definitely as a young person it makes me want to have change for my children and my children’s children because they don’t deserve to feel like how I’m feeling and how people before have felt.”
“We are the people who are going to make a difference for the future so I love to see that our generations are out here to make it better for everybody, not just for one particular minority group.” said another protest organizer Jeremiah Thomas. “The LGBT, Black community the Latino community it’s for everybody so to see all of us come together to March for something for peace and equality shows me that we have a better future ahead of us.”
Thomas said he was actually teargassed and hit by rubber bullets at the protest Tuesday, but will keep marching for his rights because the gas and bullets don't change his skin color.
Organizers say they want people to know these protests are, above all, peaceful. Being together in the protests for this cause makes them feel less alone.