West Central Reporter

Individuals gathered in Chandler Park this month to protest the death of George Floyd, showing signs against his death and supporting Black Lives Matter.

“No justice, no peace,” protesters said at the rally, according to the McDonough County Voice.

Kali Shelton, leader of the protest, told the McDonough County Voice she took her son to peacefully protest after needing to get our of her house. 

“I couldn’t be in the house anymore. I couldn’t see the ignorant posts on Facebook anymore. I couldn’t watch the clip of [Floyd] being murdered anymore,” Shelton told the newspaper. “I just needed to get out of the house, so I brought my son up here and I was like, ‘we’re just going to stand up here and we’re going to hold our signs.’”

Each day Shelton protested with her son, more people joined. It had her questioning why the death of Floyd was different than other African-American deaths at the hands of law enforcement. 

“I don’t think that it was this one made such an impact – it wasn’t this murder,” she told the Voice. “It’s just a build up since Emmitt Till. People are just sad, just sick. I don’t want to have to explain to my kids the dangers of getting a driver’s license and being pulled over while black. And that’s why I’m out here. I just want to see something change. I want them to see me working toward change. I want them to know that I’ve got their back no matter what.”

Shelton said the protests continue to peacefully grow, with volunteers offering water bottles and others waving signs and chanting for hours. People are also donating to the cause and Shelton said the support overwhelmed her. 

“I just had to sit down,” Shelton told the Voice. “You know, it just started with me and my son standing out here because I just couldn’t watch it anymore... and then to see what it’s turned into – the amount of people here, and the amount of people driving by. You see people drive by and you’re like, ‘What are they going to say?’ and then they raise their peace signs up. It’s inspiring. It’s nice to see.”