Belleville NAACP protest participants march for more than awareness. They want change.

Protests in the Metro East have varied widely in size, in demographics and in their stated outcomes.

In smaller, whiter communities, especially, organizers have emphasized spreading awareness and being a visible reminder to their neighbors of the movement happening nationally.

When more than 100 protesters gathered in Belleville on Thursday, they were preceded by a specific calls for action from the East St. Louis Branch of the NAACP.

“We didn’t want to just march,” 2nd Vice President Robin Carey-Boyd said. “Awareness is good, but it’s a given. Everybody knows we’re here, and we’re not happy with some things.”

Demonstrations have occurred across America, in big cities and small towns, since the Memorial Day death of George Floyd, a Black man killed in police custody in Minneapolis. Four police officers were fired and have since been charged in Floyd’s death.

“Most people are protesting criminal justice,” NAACP President Stanley Franklin said. “There are other issues affecting our community. This is a call for change.”

The five “game changers,” as detailed by the NAACP, cover public safety and criminal justice reform, but also economic stability, education, voting rights and political representation, and health.

While the scope of topics is broad, Franklin stressed that “Everything is a local issue.”

For criminal justice reform, Franklin said he wanted to see licensure changes for officers that could be taken away for misconduct and a citizen review board with subpoena power to address complaints and concerns.

In addition to NAACP members, many educators showed up to march, including Belleville 201 administrators and East St. Louis teachers.

“We want everyone, especially our friends here today, to know we support this and we’re anti-racism,” said Jeff Dosier, the outgoing superintendent of District 201.

Brandy Simmons teaches social studies at Wyvetter Younge Alternative Center in East St. Louis. She said educators can’t ignore social problems.

“All of the problems of society come through schoolhouse doors,” she said. “We can’t turn a blind eye.”

Starting at the Belleville Township High School District 201 building, the crowd marched and chanted their way to the St. Clair County Courthouse to listen to speakers.

In front of the courthouse, speakers spoke to the five points the NAACP outlined: One shared his experience being a Black business owner; a young union representative encouraged people to rethink what the path to economic stability looks like for young people; local state congress members urged people to vote, or even run for office themselves.

One of the last speakers, Rev. Timothy Chambers from Truelight Baptist Church in East St. Louis, told the crowd to keep their demands in perspective.

“For all that we’re asking for today, we aren’t asking for much,” he said.

This story was originally published July 9, 2020 at 6:28 PM.