‘I’m exhausted.’ NC protesters seek major change while BLM demonstrations continue in US

It’s been just over two months since George Floyd was killed in police custody in Minnesota, a death that sparked protests across the country and a seismic shift in the conversation about race.

Wednesday, hundreds of protesters marched through downtown Raleigh to show solidarity for continued Black Lives Matter demonstrations in Portland, Oregon, which have turned violent and prompted federal intervention, and in Gastonia.

They also added another name to their chants of local people who have been killed by police — David Brooks Jr.

Brooks, 45, was fatally shot Friday in Roxboro after police responded to a call of a man walking down the street with a gun. Police say they shot Brooks after he did not drop his gun, despite repeated commands, and he raised his gun toward police.

While the shooting remains under investigation, protesters in Raleigh said it illustrates why systemic change is still needed.

“It’s just symbolic of the greater issue that’s happening across the country — that’s systemic to policing, and anti-Blackness” said Cameron Crowder, an activist from Greensboro who is originally from Raleigh. He came back to his hometown Wednesday to support fellow protest organizers in their fight against racism.

“This is a Black man who is supposed to have what is called a constitutional right to hold an arm, especially in the state of North Carolina, which is an open-carry state,” said Crowder, who is with Working class & Houseless Organizing Alliance in Greensboro, known as WHOA. “He gets killed because Black people don’t actually have rights in this country.”

Protesters spoke in Nash Square about their experiences with racism before they started marching through the streets.

Tensions increased at times, as police officers urged protesters to not block the streets and protesters yelled at them. At least one person was arrested near the intersection of South McDowell Street and West Martin Street for not following police commands to move to the sidewalk. The protester was charged with impeding traffic, Raleigh Police said Thursday.

Calling for dramatic change

In Nash Square, Lydia McCaskill told the crowd that she was cited for trespassing in Gastonia while protesting racism at an ice cream shop there. She said tensions arose after she wore a Black Lives Matter button inside the shop, McClatchy reported.

“I came here today to beg for help,” McCaskill said. “I’m sorry to leave y’all so heavy like this, but I need help.”

Yakob Lemma is a co-founder of the Wake County Black Student Coalition. He was joined by Victoria Smith, another co-founder, and Justin Sanga Bull.

“Trayvon Martin was my age when he died,” Lemma said, referring to the teen who was shot in Florida by a neighbor. “I’m 17. I shouldn’t have to be doing this right now.”

Smith said she doesn’t want to be shot in the street.

“I am exhausted,” Smith said. “I don’t think people understand that this is my life at stake. ... I want to see policy change.”

Billy Belcher, another protester from Greensboro, said change will come when people empower themselves.

“That’s what people power is,” said Belcher, who also belongs with WHOA in Greensboro. “You have to be able to do it yourself. If someone else is going to do it for you, they can take it away from you. You have to be in control of your own streets, your own neighborhood.”

Crowder said he has been marching in similar protests for years and regularly since Floyd’s death. He said he couldn’t bring himself to watch the dash camera video released Wednesday of Brooks’ shooting in Roxboro.

The video shows how police responded to the call, Brooks falling to the ground after being shot and the immediate aftermath, The News & Observer reported. Person County District Attorney Mike Waters said the State Bureau of Investigation will examine the video and weapon as part of its investigation, which could take several weeks.

“I’ve seen far too many videos of Black people being killed,” Crowder said. “I’ve seen far too many videos of Black people being shot. ... When I read what happened to a Black person, at this point, I just take their word for it.”

Protests have sprung up in Roxboro, including Wednesday night on Old Durham Road where Brooks was killed, WRAL reported. The Roxboro City Council issued a state-of-emergency and curfew Tuesday and Wednesday nights, according to the city’s Facebook page.

Like Belcher, Crowder said he believes change will come when people come together to build “self-sustaining and self-sufficient communities that can be free from the influence of state violence.” He said he doesn’t believe change will come from elected officials.

He is an advocate of mutual aid programs, community gardening and people willing to defend their own communities. It will take fighting for incarcerated people and helping those who live in impoverished neighborhoods, he said.

“Honestly, it would have to be a total overhaul of the system,” Crowder said. “It’s not going to come through electoral voting. It’s not going to come through asking the people in power to, ‘Please tell the police to stop killing us.’ It’s going to come from people coming together and deciding they want a different system.”

This story was originally published July 29, 2020 at 10:26 PM.