'June 19th Is My Independence Day As A Black Woman': Over 100 Protesters March Through Wilkinsburg On Juneteenth
WILKINSBURG, Pa. (KDKA) - For hours on Friday afternoon, a group of about 100 protesters marched for Juneteenth. The event started in Wilkinsburg and marched into the city, ending in Mellon Park.
"It's real good that we are doing some type of acknowledgement for the current societal madness," said Edward Ford, who lives in Wilkinsburg.
The "March for Juneteenth" was organized by a group called Allegheny County Black Activists. Their message was to celebrate Black freedom and empowerment on what they call their Independence Day.
"June 19th is my Independence Day as a Black woman," said one of the organizers.
"Juneteenth just happens to fall into it so then it becomes a double celebration," Ford said about marching for change. "The key thing is something is wrong, something very big is wrong and has always been wrong. It needs to be corrected."
Just before noon, the group gathered at the corner of Hays Street and South Avenue.
"When the people mobilize, the politicians listen and so we are going to be out in the streets for as long as we have to be to get real change for the Black community and what they always should have had," said Paul Dordal with the Party for Socialism and Liberation.
Before the march began, the family of Romir Talley spoke to the crowd about their need for change. Talley was 24 years old when he was shot and killed by a Wilkinsburg police officer.
Allegheny County police say during a foot chase last December, Talley fired one round at an officer, who returned fire and struck him seven times.
Talley's family chanted his name as the organizers told the crowd to march for his family and scream for change.
Around 1 p.m., the group took off and headed down Hays Street. The hours-long march remained peaceful.
"I've been coming out every weekend to make a commitment to this until we can end racism in our country," said Pat Downey.
The event ended in Mellon Park over three hours after it began.
