Shouts of “Say his name,” and “Black lives matter,” filled the air Monday night in downtown Moberly as nearly 100 protesters marched and gathered to speak out against police brutality across the nation following the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and many other black Americans at the hands of law enforcement.

“We’re doing this to, hopefully, have the next generation look at this, make a change and finally put a stop to something that’s been going on for more than 50 years,” Tyeisha James, a Moberly resident and one of the protest organizers said. “It’s the same thing that our grandparents were protesting.”

Monday’s protest and march, which was the third held in Moberly so far, began in the parking lot east of the Moberly Municipal Auditorium and circled around Rollins, Morley, Coates and Clark streets. During the march, the demonstrators knelt for a prayer across the street from the Moberly Police Department. The march was organized through Facebook by the Mid-MO #COLORBLIND Movement.

A #BlackLivesMatter March starts in downtown Moberly. pic.twitter.com/uxFMMxHK75

— Moberly MonitorIndex (@MoberlyMINews) June 8, 2020

The protestors kneel in prayer on the corner of Coates and Clark streets. pic.twitter.com/mcsIzBEYKj

— Moberly MonitorIndex (@MoberlyMINews) June 8, 2020

As the protests have gone on, more people have come or spoken out to show their support of their group and the Black Lives Matter movement in general, James said.

“Something needs to change,” she said. “The system is broken. Hopefully Moberly can be a part of this change. I think we’re starting to change some minds and some ways of thinking.”

The crowd included a wide range of ages and races. Austin Stitt and Sarah Nichols were among many couples who brought their children to participate in the march.

“Our main reason for coming is showing our kids what to do to make sure everyone is taken care of, loved and supported,” Nichols said. “Not everyone has that at home.”

It did not hurt that all the children received free ice cream either. James and the other organizers had an ice cream truck come out pass out free ice cream to all the children who participated. It was important to get kids involved in the march, so that they are aware of social issues, James said.

When the crowd re-convened at the parking lot after the march, Alexis Hook spoke about her experiences with racism in her own family and how they had a dialogue that ended their hatred.

“Not only is it a time to fight for myself, but a time to fight for my children and my nieces,” Hook said.

Even with the, relatively, large crowd, more people driving by the march showed their support.

“It was very beautiful and moving,” James said. “Even people who could not physically be out here and walk with us, showed that they supported us. We definitely have a lot of good people backing us. Not only in the black community, but in the white community as well.”

Markeshia Dysart was glad to see the diversity and the number of people who turned out to the protest, especially since Moberly is a relatively smaller town.

“These are the places that are affected the most,” she said. “These are the places that have a lot of black people, but lots more white, powerful people. Without everyone coming together, we don’t stand a chance.”

Several of the protest groups are working with the Moberly Police Department and the city to hold a community barbecue at Rothwell Park in Moberly, James said.

Protest groups are pleased with how the police department assisted during the marches, she said.

Moberly Police Chief Troy Link prefers to call the marches a demonstration, which has a more positive connotation, he said.

“We’re very pleased that it was done in a positive and peaceful manner,” he said. “Are we pleased that we could assist with some of them? Yes, I am. I think that’s the way you do demonstrations. Breaking windows and otherwise disrupting day-to-day life does not promote a positive connotation for any message.”

The overall purpose of the march and larger Black Lives Matter movement is to unite everyone and bring an end to police brutality and racism, said Dysart.

“We’re here so that we can unite. So that everyone can see we are standing up together and we’re not going to take anymore of the brutality, hurt and pain,” she said. “We’re just coming together as one.”

ecliburn@moberlymonitor.com