Miles-long march from Tumwater to the Capitol leads to dialogue
Protesters took to the streets of Tumwater Saturday afternoon, demanding that police funding be diverted and the system reworked to prevent more deaths of Black people at the hands of police.
They marched 3-1/2 miles from the Walmart on Littlerock Road to the steps of the Legislative Building where speakers shared their visions for a more equal and just society.
The protest was advertised on social media, and organized in large part by Jasmyn Pereira. Pereira has organized other protests following the death of George Floyd, a Minneapolis man killed by a police officer now facing murder charges. Pereira’s last protest took place around the Capital Mall in west Olympia on June 1.
Pereira said she prefers holding protests where they cannot be ignored.
“They can ignore downtown, they can ignore the Capitol, they can even ignore the west side,” Pereira said. She wanted to bring the protest somewhere that would make people uncomfortable, she said, where people driving by would have to see it.
“There’re more towns that need to be shaken,” she said. “If I can find more people that want to work together and make noise, as many places as possible, I’d like to do that.”
Police from both Tumwater and Olympia blocked cars and made space for the march. But at the Capitol, there was no police presence.
The crowd of protesters marched down Capitol Boulevard and onto Capitol way, and their numbers grew by the time they reached the steps of the Legislative Building. There, others had set up booths for people to register to vote, get food and water and receive medical attention if needed. Attached to one of the building’s pillars was a list of demands protesters could write on that would then be sent to the Olympia City Council.
A podium with a microphone was set up for people to share their thoughts on how Olympia could become a better place.
Lyle Crews, an educator and entrepreneur, told the crowd that racism is a weed, and that to get rid of the weed, you need to take it out at the root. He said, in Olympia, to get rid of the root we need “education, listening to each other, dealing honestly with the challenges and being passionate about standing for justice and equality for all Americans.”
At the Capitol, Olympia City Council members Dani Madrone and Lisa Parshley listened to speakers, talked with protesters and later addressed the crowd. Parshley told the crowd “Don’t you dare stop the pressure!” She added that the council would be looking at the budget and that when it came to the Olympia Police Department she said “we have to start from the beginning” to address its problems.
The protest drew familiar faces. Simeon Rivers said he has been out nine of the last 11 nights protesting. “It’s mad important that we stay out here consistently,” he said. “Sometimes it’s 10 people, sometimes it’s five people, but it makes a difference that you’re there, that people see you.”
“You can hand out pamphlets, you can share things on Facebook, but the more people that get out here, the more we get seen,” Rivers said. “I feel like you have a responsibility, if you don’t have anything going on and you know you can be out here, and you believe in change, then you are responsible (for being out here).”
Among the protesters were families walking together, many of whom said it was there first time participating in a march.
“We’ve been upset for a really long time,” said Heather Matthews, a teacher in training who marched with her partner and two children. “But over the past few years, what’s getting more upsetting is people’s negative reactions to people wanting to make a change. And it’s gotten more and more socially acceptable for people to be apathetic. ... It’s a tipping point where you just can’t be quiet anymore.”
This story was originally published June 13, 2020 at 9:02 PM.