Protesters in Westport call for police accountability, attend in support of Black lives
A group of at least 100 people gathered in Westport on Saturday night to call for police accountability and in support of Black lives.
Throughout the night, protesters chanted the names of men killed by Kansas City police and shared stories of why they attended the protest.
Organizer Oluwatoyin Keji Akinmoladun told the crowd to remember why they’re here: to support Black lives.
Akinmoladun said they were there to tell the stories of those who can’t anymore: Ryan Stokes, Donnie Sanders, Terrance Bridges and Cameron Lamb, four men who were killed by Kansas City police officers.
Akinmoladun thanked people for coming and said she appreciated the people of all races who came out.
“I appreciate y’all,” she told them. “We appreciate you back,” some people said to her.
Another speaker brought up Friday night’s protest in Overland Park where four people were arrested. Three of them were released before midnight Friday, but the fourth person was released Saturday afternoon. He was charged with felony battery on a law enforcement officer, but protesters said he was wrongly arrested.
About 30 people attended that protest. The speaker asked why officers needed to wear riot gear for a group of 30.
Protesters, who initially stood on the sidewalk outside Kelly’s Westport Inn, later moved into the intersection of Pennsylvania Avenue and Westport Road. Traffic turned around and the road was soon blocked off.
One woman holding the megaphone told the crowd her story of dealing with the American healthcare system and the loss she endured. “America, stop hunting our babies,” she said.
About 9:30 p.m., Michaela Baldeh and Renald Donahue stood together on the corner outside Beer Kitchen to watch. They came to Westport to get food and an oatmeal cookie from Insomnia, but once they saw the protest, they couldn’t leave.
Baldeh said it was nice to see people there who didn’t look like her.
Donahue said he worried the protest movement would fade away after the first week.
“I’m glad it didn’t die out,” he said.
Several mothers in yellow shirts with the Wall of Moms KC group, which got its start this week after its initial creation following protests in Portland, also attended. One mom told The Star that they don’t want to be the main story.
