Hundreds Gather Sunday In 10th Day Of Protest

8 p.m.

The weekend’s protests and demonstrations ended with a group of about 50 protesters gathered at Monument Circle.

Will Smith, an Indiana University-Purdue University Indianpolis graduate, says there were fewer people downtown Sunday evening than previous days. “As long as there are people out here, there are voices to be heard.”

“As long as there are people out here, there are voices to be heard,” Will Smith. The crowd is getting smaller as people leave. Smith says there were less people out today than previous days. pic.twitter.com/KXjrUDBsLl

— Darian Benson (@HelloImDarian) June 7, 2020

Volunteer organizer Mohamed Kaba says the protests have progressed through the week and have been peaceful. But, he adds, this marks the 10th day of protests, and it can be tiring. 

“It’s getting really tough out here,” he says. “We’ve been fighting for justice for a really long time, and I feel like it’s been 400 years, and ... we’re at a time where we are actually making history.”

Kaba urged the crowd to remember why they are protesting.

Tonight’s event is over. I spoke with volunteer Mohamed Kada. He says there has been a positive progression of protests in the past week. He urges people to remember why they are protesting. An undisclosed event is scheduled for Saturday. pic.twitter.com/IzwgCnmNCM

— Darian Benson (@HelloImDarian) June 8, 2020

A protest is scheduled for Saturday, but the location has not been released. Kaba hinted that protesters might gather outside another elected official’s house, following this week’s protests at the governor’s residence and Mayor Joe Hogsett’s home.

“Since they won’t come and walk with us, and they won’t come and support us, then now we’re taking it to them.” he says. “Letting them know that we will do whatever it takes for us to get justice.”

7 p.m.

As Sunday evening’s processional of lament and repentance continued through Indianapolis’ Butler-Tarkington neighborhood, the crowd swelled to more than 300 people.

The neighborhood’s faith communities organized the two-mile walk around the near Northside neighborhood. The group stopped at the MLK Center and the governor’s residence, where a woman read the names of black lives lost.

A woman reads names of black lives lost, another rings a bell. pic.twitter.com/H38nT075fF

— Darian Benson (@HelloImDarian) June 7, 2020

Jeff Krajewski is the lead pastor at Common Ground Christian Church, one of the churches that organized the event. He says the goal was to let neighbors know the faith community is aware it has been complacent with the problems surrounding racial injustices, and that it’s time for change.

“We've been part of the problem for a long time, and it’s time for us to own that and start doing some actionable work to be part of the solution,” he says. “That passivity is no longer a solution.”

Outside the Governor’s residence now. pic.twitter.com/4mXY8cvzjw

— Darian Benson (@HelloImDarian) June 7, 2020

The event was different from the protests in Indianapolis over the past week. The majority of attendees were white and many young families participated.

Evan Hawkins, who brought his two daughters to the walk, held a sign that said “Black Fathers Matter.” He says it’s important for his daughters to understand what they see on TV is not acceptable and to help them make sense of the world.

A lot of families out tonight. Evan Hawkins is here with his daughters and is holding a sign that reads “Black Fathers Matter.” He says it’s important for his daughters to understand that what they are seeing on TV is not acceptable and help them make sense of the world. pic.twitter.com/j1LDImHHxd

— Darian Benson (@HelloImDarian) June 7, 2020

“This is a cause that is ancestral. As a black father, it’s important to acknowledge that,” Hawkins says. “The events that have transpired over the past few weeks is just a reminder that the system is broken.”

5:30 p.m.

More than 200 people gathered at Common Ground Midtown Church in Butler-Tarkington Sunday evening for a two-mile walk around the neighborhood.

Currently: at Common Ground Midtown Church in Butler-Tarkington. More than 200 people here for a processional of lament and repetence. pic.twitter.com/B9I7X5IPV1

— Darian Benson (@HelloImDarian) June 7, 2020

The group planned to stop at three locations, including the governor’s residence, to lament lost black lives, “confess complicity with white supremacy/racial injustices” and “repent with tangible action” for the future.

The event was hosted by a half-dozen area churches, as well as the Martin Luther King Community Center.

Early Morning Protesters Urge Mayor To Wake Up For Black Lives

More than 100 cars paraded through North Indianapolis early this morning in a Wake Up for Black Lives rally. 

The group kicked things off at 5:30 a.m. — a half-hour before the city’s curfew ended — at United Methodist Church at 38th Street and Meridian.

Organizer Leah Derray said the predawn start was not to break curfew, but to get a jump on community activism.

“We are waking folks up for black lives,” she said. “It’s like a drive, we are going to play music, we are going to drum, some people are going to get out and jump around, get going.”

Using streamers, signs and paint, people decorated cars with messages like “No Justice, No Peace” and “Who Killed Dreasjon Reed?” He was fatally shot by an Indianapolis police officer last month, and the officer’s name has not been released publicly.

One decorated car. “Who killed Dreasjon Reed?” In reference to an Indianapolis man killed by police last month. pic.twitter.com/UgwUa9Py4M

— Darian Benson (@HelloImDarian) June 7, 2020

Indy10 Black Lives Matter organized the event to protest police brutality.

The group headed north, toward Mayor Joe Hogsett’s home. In that neighborhood, many of them got out of their cars, saying, “Wake up, Joe,” according to video posted on social media.

Organizers said their goal is to wake up affluent, predominantly white neighborhoods in Indianapolis and bring awareness to the problems facing African Americans.

This post will be updated