Page 8 - The Wayne Dispatch

Peaceful protest marches through Wayne

By Carolyn Marnon sure the church wasn’t silent on the
“Hands up!” yelled the lady with issue.”
the bullhorn. Darcel was one of the members
“Don’t shoot!” came the reply instrumental in organizing the
from the dozens of walkers in her Prayer Walk. Over 300 people were
immediate vicinity. invited, including elected officials.
This was the scene several weeks Everyone who was invited was sup-
ago as the Black Lives Matter Prayer portive of the event, said Darcel,
Walk meandered its way along the even if they were not able to attend
streets from Burning Bush Interna- because of a scheduling conflict.
tional Ministries on Annapolis Rd in “My skin is not a threat!”
Westland to Attwood Park in Wayne, “The inspiration (for the prayer
drawing hundreds of people along walk) is centered around the Black
with them. Whether they came out of Lives movement especially as it re-
their houses to see what was happen- lates to what happened to George
ing in their neighborhood, riding Floyd,” said Bishop Shelby. “Youth
their bicycles down the street, or al- and millennials were getting involved
ready out for a summer evening in protesting. They were encouraged
walk, people joined their Black to speak their voice. This was an op-
neighbors in this peaceful protest portunity to protest in what I feel is
proclaiming that Black Lives Matter. the right way—a peaceful protest. As
“What do we want?” “Justice!” Christians, we can protest and speak
“When do we want it?” “Now!” aloud about injustice but still let our
“Hey hey, ho ho. These racist cops light shine as Christians.”
have got to go.” Protesters display their signs before the march into Wayne. Photo by Ryan Wright The sign reads “There Comes a
“Some young people had been ap- church to be silent amongst all the knelt on his throat for over eight Time When Silence is Betrayal.”
proaching the Bishop saying they protests and upheaval ignited by the minutes while George struggled to “We would have been happy with
wanted their voices to be heard,” most recent killing of George Floyd, tell him he couldn’t breathe, Bishop 200 (people attending) when it was
said Darcel Brown, a member of a Black man in Minneapolis, Min- Shelby decided to have a Prayer
Burning Bush. Not wanting the nesota who died after a police officer Walk for peace and equality “to be See March, page 9

8 · July 2020 · The Wayne Dispatch