Lucas marches, chants with group on fourth night of KC protests: ‘Keep making noise’
Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas marched with protesters Monday evening as the fourth day of demonstrations against police brutality following the death of George Floyd continued.
“I want this to be about a moment that we’re changing the world. We’re changing the world from one park in Kansas City. That’s what you have the power to do,” Lucas said in a speech following his march. “If you believe in justice, stand with us. If you believe in equality, stand for us. If you believe truly that black lives matter, stand with us. We are peaceful. We are calm. But we are pissed off.”
“The mayor of Kansas City heard you today,” Lucas continued. “And I want you to keep making noise so the governor hears you, so the senator hears you and so the damn president of the United States hears you.”
As Lucas walked with a group on Main Street heading north from the Country Club Plaza, protesters began a chant.
“What do we want?” one asked into a microphone.
“Justice.”
“When do we want it?”
“Now.”
Lucas joined the march from Mill Creek Park to 43rd Street and back a few hours after meeting with the group, listening to concerns and having conversations with people about making changes within the police department.
At the J.C. Nichols Memorial Fountain, the mayor addressed the group.
“We are going to teach the community something, that we are peaceful, that we are not destructive. We are just trying to save lives,” Lucas said into a microphone to the crowd back at the fountain, leading into a chant.
“We’re trying to save black lives. Because black lives matter.”
“Black lives matter,” Lucas chanted with the group.
The mayor also led another.
“No justice,” Lucas started.
“No peace!” the crowd replied.
Some cheered for Lucas, with one saying “We got a mayor who marches with us.”
Separate from the march with Lucas, another group of protesters from the Plaza made their way farther north. A few hundred continued on Main until police blocked them off.
At 31st and Main streets, police were seen standing in the way. One officer was heard over loudspeaker telling the crowd “This is KCPD. This is an unlawful assembly. You cannot go further north.”
The group continued west and then north again on Broadway Boulevard.
At 31st Street and Broadway Boulevard, some protesters sat in the street while a police officer was heard over a loudspeaker saying “We appreciate you being peaceful but we gotta let you go southbound.”
“We can’t let you go any further north or you will be under arrest,” the officer announced.
Most turned around, though a few stayed, trying to decide next steps.
This story was originally published June 1, 2020 at 9:40 PM.
