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March Expresses Community Concern

Terry Prather, The Ledger Independent

To chants of “Hands up, don't shoot,” “Black lives matter,”and “All lives matter,” marchers from area congregations participated in a peaceful show of community concern in Maysville on Sunday (Dec. 14).

The march was in response to national events and lack of indictments in police involved shootings of young African American men.

Beginning at Bethel Baptist Church on Forest Avenue, shortly after 2 p.m., Sunday, marchers carrying signs, and flanked by a Maysville Police cruiser for traffic control, walked from the church west to a turn, and on to the Maysville Rotary Club building.

Two of the young men marching with the group, Payton Jonson and J'Kari Gause echoed the need for all lives to matter.

“Peoples lives matter,” Johnson said. “You have to pray that everyone gets a chance to live their life.”

Gause agreed, adding that there should be equal justice.

For Martha Simms, an end to the violence was what she would like.

“A lot of this stuff needs to stop. I have prayers for all of the families who have lost someone,” Simms said.

Once the group of about 50 people arrived at the Rotary Club building, they listened to local religious leaders speak about what young members of the community should do if they are stopped by police.

“Put your hands on the steering wheel and don't say anything until the officer asks a question,” said Bishop Christopher Lee of Bethel Baptist Church. “Then it is, 'Yes, sir,' and 'No, Sir,', take your ticket and pray nothing else happens.”

Avoiding confrontational behavior is the way to deal with such situations, he said.

“We cannot allow actions to fuel over into emotions,” he said, referring to looting and burning of community businesses in places like Ferguson, Mo. “African America owned businesses were being destroyed, the community was being destroyed and that is not what needs to happen in communities that are already hurting.”

Rev. James Turley of Scott United Methodist Church spoke of his former experience in law enforcement and as a church leader now.

“This is a community and we are here to promote community unity,” Turley said. “Everybody is tired of it....it may be deer season, but it is not open season on young black men.”

Turley encouraged use of body cameras on police, to “...keep everybody honest.”

“Be heard,” Turley said. “Pray for the courage to stand up and be heard.”

Turley added that acting foolish when in contact with police cannot end well.

“You start acting a fool and they will treat you as such,” Turley said. “More people have been arrested for their mouths than their crimes.”

Lee also encouraged members of the community, of all races, to take responsibility for their own actions.

Terrence Taylor, church elder at BBC spoke of changes and perceptions.

“I am not an African American; I am an American who happens to be of African descent,” Taylor said.

Also attending and speaking were audience members, plus Jerry Gore of Maysville, and Rev. Charles Williams Jr. of First Baptist Church in Ripley, Ohio.

The Ledger Independent is online at: http://www.maysville-online.com