Protesters to gather in Overland Park for Black Lives Matter march, rally
Protesters will gather Saturday for a march supporting Black Lives Matter in Overland Park.
The march will start at 11 a.m. at Overland Park City Hall, 8500 Santa Fe Drive, and end at the Overland Park Clock Tower where a rally will be held.
City officials and community activists will speak, according to the Facebook event page, which posted that “It is time to start the discussion about how we can overturn systematic racism, racial profiling and social injustice.”
Saturday’s event was organized by the Advocacy and Awareness Group of Johnson County.
As of Tuesday, the Facebook event page said 85 people were attending.
Organizers also said they want the Overland Park Police Department to be committed to policies laid out in the 8 Can’t Wait campaign. The nationwide initiative calls for banning choke holds and requiring de-escalation, among other things.
Overland Park Police Chief Frank Donchez plans to speak at the event, said city spokesman Sean Reilly.
Catalyzed by the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, thousands of protesters have gathered in cities across the world calling for racial justice and an end to police brutality.
Thousands turned out in Kansas City during more than 10 days of protests. In response, Police Chief Rick Smith announced the police department had secured funding for body cameras, a step community activists had been advocating for years. The department also said outside agencies will review police shootings.
A protest in Prairie Village drew hundreds of people last week. Other demonstrations have been held in Overland Park, Olathe and Shawnee.
