Michael L. Taylor stood some distance away from the Black Lives Matter rally, his all-black attire interrupted by an American-flag bowtie, yet he was decidedly there in support. He ran his finger over the carving on his African staff and told of how it means “leadership.”
“We need to get a group of leaders together such as city and church leaders, to be leaders, and set examples with our city,” he said. “Where are our leaders? It seems everyone is handling our business but us.”
Approximately 100 people, of all ages and colors, turned out at Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Park for the Black Lives Matter rally in solidarity with police-brutality protestors in Baltimore. For a good portion of the rally, police on bicycles outnumbered the protestors, while a police helicopter hovered overhead the entire time.
“We like working today,” Seattle Police Lt. Jim Arata said. “It’s a fun day. Everyone is always friendly.”
In the background, Militant Child rapped “Fuck the police! Fuck the government!”
Still though, the rally remained peaceful.
Protestant minister Andrew Conley Holcom with the West Seattle Admiral Congregational Church was at the rally. “White communities have a hard time speaking about racism,” he said. “We have to own up to the racism we have going on, get honest about what prejudices we have, ask for repentance and do something about it.”
Or, in the words of Mark Cook, former Black Panther who was speaking at the rally: “Look at the issues and wake up, Goddammit!”