What started as an idea between two teenagers turned into a large, peaceful protest in downtown Hillsborough on Friday to remember George Floyd and other black Americans killed by police.

“I’ve been protesting all week in other cities,” said Colin Davis, one of the organizers of the event, “I figured if we can get the turnout in those cities, we might as well make it something local.

“I’ve seen a lot of people in this area wanting to post about it and be more active in it, but they didn’t have an opportunity. Some people can’t drive to Raleigh to protest. So we figured we’d set something up here and let people speak their minds.”

Friday’s protest in Hillsborough was one of hundreds that have popped up across the globe after Floyd’s death on Memorial Day. Video surfaced on social media showing Floyd saying he was unable to breath as he was pinned beneath an officer’s knee.

The protest began at First Baptist Church on West King Street before heading to the Orange County Historical Courthouse in downtown Hillsborough. Protesters were given a police escort on their march.

Aidan Salmeron, one of the organizers of the event, said he was spurred on after seeing other people take action on social media.

“I guess I could say I kicked off this event on a whim, on a thought on spontaneity,” said Salmeron. “Just seeing everything on social media, I wasn’t playing a part myself, which I am guilty of. I was kind of standing as a bystander, onlooking as everything happened.”

Like many other recent protests, participants voiced their anger at police brutality and racial injustices against African Americans in the United States.

UNC student Yolanda Simpson took the mic and performed a verse of Durham band Delta Rae’s “All Good People” for the crowd.

Davis and Salmeron said they expected around a hundred people to show up, but the crowd in Hillsborough on Friday afternoon numbered several hundred.

“This is absolutely fantastic,” said Salmeron. “I am honestly speechless. I wish I could go and thank every last person for being here, every last child, every last grandparent, neighbor, friend for being here. It’s been a fantastic turnout for everything and this is simply just the beginning.”

Protesters chanted “say her name” followed by “Breonna Taylor” as they marched in downtown Hillsborough. Taylor, a black woman, was fatally shot by Louisville police officers in March. Friday would have been Taylor’s birthday.

“This is people versus racism and I think if you’re on the other side of this fight, then I don’t know how else to explain it to you,” said Davis. “If you’re not anti-racism, you’re racist.”

The protest in Hillsborough was one of many that occurred in Orange County last week. Wednesday saw the county’s first protest, led by an incoming UNC student. There were additional protests in Chapel Hill on Friday and Saturday.

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