Demonstrators “die” on the BCPA lawn

Posted on July 15, 2020
Demonstrators, including Bloomington Mayor Tari Renner, gathered Tuesday evening at the BCPA. (Photo by A.J. Harris/WJBC)

By A.J. Harris

BLOOMINGTON – About 30 people gathered on the lawn of the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts yesterday, including Bloomington Mayor Tari Renner, to take part in a “die in”.

The demonstration included people holding up tombstones with the names of those killed by police, and when a symbolic “gunshot” rang out, which was the beat of a drum, the names on the tombstones were said, and protesters sat on the ground.

Mayor Renner addressed the crowd, saying we must fight for the better part of human beings.

“Hatred has no bounds, that is the ignorance we have to continue to fight,” he said.

“We have too many people, including the president of the United States, appealing to the worst in people.”

He adds that’s not what America is about, and it’s not what Bloomington Normal is about.

Linda Foster, President of the Bloomington/Normal chapter of the NAACP, also spoke, thanking those in attendance for standing up, staying on the battlefield, and not letting anyone kill their spirits.

The protest, hosted by Stand Up For Social Justice, also addressed systemic racism in the healthcare, housing, and collegiate fields.

A.J. Harris can be reached at [email protected]

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