Black Lives Matter Comes to Jerseyville
The Jerseyville protesters united in demanding changes and reforms in policing methods, along with protesting the deaths of African-American men in particular following arrests, along with suppression of peaceful protests in many cities across the nation.
Protest organizer Davis said, “On social media, I've seen videos of African-American men being brutally put in jail and it really makes me very sad, because it could be any of my loved ones, or my friends. And it's not just about police brutality, but black-on-black crime, too. My dad was shot when I was younger, and it was black-on-black crime, so I stand up for non-violent protests."
Davis' father died after being shot 10 times, and she says it helped her become opposed to violence in general. She said she has received much feedback on her Facebook page after stating her beliefs, most of it being positive.
"I'd say it's about 30% negative, 70% positive," Davis said. "There's a lot of supporters, but there's also a lot of people who don't believe what I believe in. I respect their opinions, as long as they're not violent with me."
Davis also credited the local authorities for their help in making sure opponents of the march didn't try to start trouble and kept things peaceful for everyone trying to make a peaceful statement. "The police are a big help here," Davis said, "making sure that no one's coming to our side and they stay on their side."
Davis was referring to a small number of people not wearing masks and yelling derogatory remarks about the Black Lives Matter group while parading around with American, Trump and Confederate flags. Several trucks drove by the protest with Confederate flags flapping in the back. At one point someone in the group was calling out to the group about where the welfare office was located. Later during the event, several flag wavers crossed the street to get close to the Black Lives Matter group and they were immediately met by Sheriff Mike Ringhausen backed up by a significant number of law enforcement officers and removed to their original position.
Democratic Senator Dick Durbin was a speaker at the protest. Durban gave the younger people credit for their participation, feeling that their generation is going to help bring change.
"Look at this gathering here," Durbin said. "These young people, their determination, black, white and brown. There's a force at work here, and I hope we can capitalize on that, and America needs to. They don't want to live under the shadow of racism in their lives, and have their children grow up under it. They want to change America for the better. And that's why I came here today."
Durbin said he is very confident that legislation introduced this past week that addresses police reforms all over the country will be a starting point in a discussion on reforms itself. "That's what it comes down to," Durbin said. "I don't know where the President will be, I honestly don't know. But in terms of what we can do, I think the bill we've introduced is the right place to start, and I hope that we can get this bill passed."
When Jersey County sheriff Mike Ringhausen was asked what he thought about the protest, he said he knew that it was a matter of time before the protests that have gone on all over the country came to Jerseyville. "It didn't surprise me," Ringhausen said, "because it has been in other places, too. It was kind of time to make their rounds."
Ringhausen did praise the protesters for keeping things peaceful, and that they were exercising their constitutional rights. "It appears to be a peaceful protest," Ringhausen said. "Everybody has a right to their opinion; I mean, that's why they're here. The Constitution has freedom of speech and the right to assemble."
In addition to the sheriff's department, other police agencies were on hand to help keep the peace, and Ringhausen used a quote from Abraham Lincoln on the county veteran monument surrounded by the protesters. "It was Abraham Lincoln who wrote of the sacrifice at the altar of freedom," Ringhausen said, "and that's what that monument means. And that's why these people are allowed to do this. So as long as it's peaceful, and nothing gets torn up, lawlessness, we're going to be alright."
When protest organizer Davis was asked what she plans on doing after graduation from Alton High, Davis said she is planning on becoming an attorney and is hoping to help bring positive changes to the community in the future. "I hope that I make change for the future," Davis said. "I want to start out small, and end big."
