Protesters burn flag, decry ‘empty promises’ in a march following Freedom Rally
During the speeches at the start of a Freedom Rally at the Country Club Plaza Saturday evening, the sound of fireworks in the background was a reminder that it was the Fourth of July. Speakers told the crowd that it is time to change the future of the United States.
Attorney Stacy Shaw, who sang the Black National Anthem, had this message for the crowd of around 200: “All over this country, all over this city, we are uniting our voices to change the destiny of America. We do not have a small task in front of us.”
Shaw said she was maced, tear gassed, arrested and treated like a criminal while she exercised her Constitutional rights at previous protests.
“We do not need empty promises,” Shaw said at the rally, which was organized by KC Community Bail Fund, in partnership with One Struggle KC, Black Rainbow and Black Kansas City Family.
“We are going to keep showing up every single moment until our reasonable demands are met,” Shaw said.
Speaker Justice Horn called for the resignation of Kansas City Police Chief Rick Smith.
“We must hold those in public office with their feet to the fire,” Horn said, adding that Smith turned a blind eye to Brianna Hill. “A transgender African American woman was being beaten in the street by two KC police officers.”
Later in his speech Horn said, “Black trans lives matter. Today, tomorrow and every single damn day.”
He ended his speech by urging people to vote.
KC Community Bail Fund co-founder Chloe Cooper said many people are realizing for the first time that freedom is not the same for everyone.
“The moment we stepped off of the plantation, we traded our shackles for cages,” Cooper said. “Our family and communities have been broken by a criminal punishment system that was designed to keep us caged whenever possible.”
Cooper said the purpose of the fund is to keep families together and break the chains of the justice system.
Other speakers shared their dreams for a better world, called for transformation and addressed white supremacy.
At around 9 p.m., a crowd of around 200 marched up Mill Creek Parkway, chanting “Black Lives Matter.”
At the intersection of Pennsylvania Avenue and Westport Road, a few protesters burned an American flag, while others chained themselves to Kelly’s Westport Inn. Nearby, protesters put red paint on their hands and marked a replica of an old wagon, creating the appearance of bloody hand prints. The wagon was later burned.
“All of us that are standing and kneeling here today are bearing witness that we will not tolerate systemic racism anymore,” Shaw said. She later added that, “There is no explanation or excuse for turning your back on this revolution. You are responsible for taking action.”
Protesters also chanted, “No justice, no peace,” with sparklers in hand.
At 10:20 p.m., police officers about a block away put on face shields, though the shields were not pulled down. Shortly after the crowd became aware, leaders said the protesters would not be be intimidated and they marched down the block. Police backed away from the protesters, got in their cars and drove away.
Protesters returned to the intersection outside Kelly’s before marching back to the Plaza shortly after 11 p.m. People in reflective vests, and a few in vehicles, helped to block traffic.
A car that initially slowed down accelerated through the crowd on Broadway Boulevard, just south of Westport.
Near the end of the protest, protesters, standing in a circle at the intersection of Mill Creek Parkway and 47th Street, again chanted the name “Brianna Hill” and the names of four men killed by Kansas City police: Ryan Stokes, Donnie Sanders, Terrance Bridges and Cameron Lamb.
This story was originally published July 4, 2020 at 9:56 PM.
