Todd Chamberlin noticed something different Monday night as some in Glenwood Springs joined others in communities across the country, large and small, in protesting police brutality in the wake of George Floyd\u2019s death.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a very young crowd, and that\u2019s what it\u2019s going to come down to is generational change,\u201d said Chamberlin, who, as a gay man, is used to protesting on behalf of the LGBTQ community.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s so much systemic racism and bigotry in our society, and it has to change,\u201d he said. \u201cWe\u2019re all one, and we should really act as one and support one another, and not feed into the hate and violence.\u201d<\/p>\n
That\u2019s why Chamberlin said he was inspired to see the large number of young people in the crowd of about 85 peaceful protesters who gathered next to Glenwood Springs City Hall and the Garfield County Sheriff\u2019s Office.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis generation sees through all the bigotry that we\u2019ve had for far too long,\u201d he said. \u201cThere\u2019s much more diversity in our population than there was 20 or 30 years ago \u2026 and it\u2019s just great to see them here speaking out and wanting change.\u201d<\/p>\n
Among them were Samantha Corcoran and Emily Henriksen, who just graduated from Glenwood Springs High School on Saturday. <\/p>\n
Corcoran said she sees many of her peers act indifferently toward social justice issues, but the anger is real.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe couldn\u2019t go to Denver or any of the big protests around the country, but there is something we can do right here in our own town,\u201d she said. \u201cIt feels like we\u2019re at a breaking point, and maybe a revolution is coming. I hope so.\u201d <\/p>\n
Added Henriksen, \u201cPeople are fed up, and they are demanding change. We just want to add our voice to that.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Glenwood Springs rally was hastily organized via social media by Western Slope Anti-Racist Action. The group organized a similar rally in Grand Junction on Sunday, and is planning one in Rifle on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Protesters waved signs and chanted, \u201csay his name \u2026 George Floyd!\u201d \u201cend police brutality\u201d and \u201cblack lives matter.\u201d The group eventually moved to the lawn in front of the Sheriff\u2019s Office and each of them laid face-down for eight minutes of silence, except for the quiet mantra of \u201cI can\u2019t breathe.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a second time we\u2019ve seen a black man die on the streets and his last words were \u2018I can\u2019t breathe,\u2019\u201d event organizer Joanna Gibson of Parachute said in reference to Floyd\u2019s death while in police custody in Minneapolis on May 25, and that of Eric Garner in New York City in 2014.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor us to remain silent is for us to remain accepting of the situation we currently live in,\u201d Gibson said. \u201cWe can\u2019t do that anymore. We have to be the people who stand up.\u201d<\/p>\n
She said it\u2019s important for people to understand the racial element of what happened to Floyd, Garner and others who died at the hands of police.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe anger, the pain, the anguish \u2026 all of that. It\u2019s important that everyone everywhere is aware of this.\u201d<\/p>\n
Steve and Brianna Williams just moved to New Castle from Columbus, Ohio, and wanted to add their voice to the local rally.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy husband is black, we have a black son, so, yes, justice has to be served,\u201d Brianna said. \u201cWe\u2019re just happy to see this in such a little town.\u201d <\/p>\n
Dawn Dexter of Glenwood Springs has started an anti-racist book club and is promoting the Campaign Zero to End Police Violence, which outlines 10 steps to bring police reform.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s important that, as a white woman, and from my little bit of privilege, that I use that privilege to speak up for those who don\u2019t have the same privilege,\u201d Dexter said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI can walk around freely in my city without anyone saying I\u2019m a suspicious character, and I don\u2019t have to fear being brutalized by the police,\u201d she said. \u201cThat means I need to show up and speak up for those who do experience that.\u201d<\/p>\n