Tuscaloosa Hosts Peaceful Protest in Snow Hinton Park Saturday

Dozens of people gathered Saturday in Snow Hinton Park as part of nationwide demonstrations for the Black Lives Matter movement. Alabama Rally Against Injustice hosted the protest that started at 1:30 p.m.

Several Tuscaloosa residents took turns delivering speeches discussing their personal experiences with racial injustice.

Peaceful protesters walked around the trails of the park eight times to represent the minutes George Floyd spent on the ground while detained by Minneapolis Police.

Those in attendance held various signs and chanted, "No justice, no peace, no racist police." The protesters received multiple honks and shouts from people in their cars as they marched next to McFarland Boulevard.

Tuscaloosa police officers observed the demonstrators from their designated posts around the park. As the attendees walked around the park, the police officers helped hand out water bottles provided by the protest organizers.

"Every time I've had a conversation with people who don't believe in Black Lives Matter, they always ask for the statistics and facts. We want to talk about how this isn't about the statistics, this is life or death," protest organizer Joy Hill said.

The four Minneapolis police officers involved in the violent arrest of George Floyd face second-degree murder and aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter charges. Black Lives Matter protests are still occurring as more video footage surfaces revealing police brutality all over the world.

"I feel like today, gathering, I definitely saw unity in this,"  protest organizer Shaquala Courtland said after the demonstration ended."Moving forward, I want it to be a continuation and not just being here today to post on social media. I need it to be a literal change in our government, in our people, and in our community."