Several hundred peaceful protestors filled downtown Peoria's streets on Saturday afternoon to demonstrate against racism and police brutality.
The "We Matter March" started at the Gateway Building, headed down Water Street and up Walnut to the Peoria Police Department. After several minutes of rallying there, the marchers headed down SW Adams to the Peoria County Courthouse plaza.
Peoria police officers cleared traffic ahead of the protestors, but otherwise didn't interfere with Saturday's rally.
The march was held in part for George Floyd, the black man who died after a white Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for several minutes.
"That hashtag 'I Can't Breathe' has come back from 2014, which is unacceptable. Absolutely unacceptable. The fact that another black man has to use that hashtag because he lost his life? It's sad, truly," said protestor Autumn Angelize.
Other black Americans killed in police actions over the past decade were mentioned, such as Eric Garner of New York, Breonna Taylor of Louisville, Ky., and Trayvon Martin of Sanford, Fla.
The names of black Peoria men like Luis Cruz and Eddie Russell, Jr. recently killed in officer-involved shootings later determined to be justified by Peoria County prosecutors were also chanted by the protestors.
"We are really trying to get an overhaul in Peoria, especially because Peoria does have a history of violence when it comes to police brutality, and I feel like it's gone unchecked for long enough. And we want our voices to be heard," said Angelize.
Peoria has been highlighted as one of the worst cities in the country for African-Americans to live, with disproportionately high rates of incarceration, poverty, and other negative factors among the area's black population.
The marchers included a mix of both black and white protestors, young and old. Most people wore face masks due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
"This is not just a black movement. This is everybody's life on the line here," said protestor Mariah Cooley. "And until our police protect us, we have to protect ourselves and fight for ourselves."
Cooley said there will be future events to advocate for "justice and peace" in Peoria.
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