By Nicole June
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (CLARKSVILLENOW) – People from all walks of life attended a peaceful demonstration Friday afternoon in front of the Montgomery County courthouse.
The demonstration was planned in the aftermath of the shootings of two black men by police this week, followed by the fatal shooting of several police officers in Dallas, TX.
At least 30 people representing different ages, colors, genders, and occupations held signs, took photos, and engaged in conversation.
The message of the day was a simple one: unity.
As the crowd began to assemble, law enforcement officers and clergy members arrived to shake hands with the demonstrators and show their support. Many expressed gratitude when an officer showed up carting a cooler full of water to pass out to those gathered.
This protest was silent. No one chanted or screamed. The camaraderie between fellow human beings was enough.
Guy Stanford, who organized the demonstration via social media and word of mouth, was glad to see that this protest against violence had reached several people.
“I just want the community to come together so we can see change in the city before anything,” Stanford said. “We’ve got to start small if we want to change the world. There’s a lot of violence going on in front of our eyes. People are dying unnecessarily.”
Stanford has made it a personal mission to address the issues of violence in Clarksville as well as the rest of the nation. He wants to promote unity among all people in his community.
After glancing around, Stanford could see the diversity of the crowd and was heartened by it.
“It’s not just about us. It’s not about one race. We’re all one race: the human race. We need to stop the violence,” he said.
“That [diversity] is what really touches me. I know that it’s not just black people that are angry; it’s the whole community. We have this much support and so many people are taking steps to make a change.”
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