Protesters March On Mesquite

By AMY DAVIS

The Progress

About 100 protesters took to the streets of Mesquite on Thursday afternoon, June 4, to protest the death of George Floyd, a black man who was killed in custody of police in Minneapolis Minnesota on May 25. Floyd was detained for trying to use a counterfeit $20 bill and was killed when an officer pinned him down with his knee on Floyd’s neck for more than 8 minutes.

This event set off protest rallies in cities across the country over the past two weeks, some of them violent.

The original online invitation to the Mesquite protest called for interested parties to march from the area across from Virgin River Resort to the Casablanca Resort parking lot. But the 112 degree extreme heat altered the original plans, and the protest ended instead at City Hall.

The confusion over the logistical planning for the event, who was organizing it, and rumors of protesters coming by the busload from outside the community caused considerable fearss among local residents and business owners in the days leading up to the event.

This was especially true for businesses in the path of the march. Many local businesses closed up shop early that afternoon and let their employees go home out of an abundance of caution. Some even boarded up their windows with plywood hoping to protect their buildings from destruction or looting should the protest become violent or destructive.

But despite local concerns, the protest remained calm, quiet and peaceful.
“This is awesome!” said Mesquite City Attorney and Mayoral candidate, Bob Sweetin who was present during the protest. “Peaceful Protest; this is what it should look like. The police are so helpful and directing traffic so that the protest march can run smoothly.”

Officers were blocking off parts of Mesquite Blvd so that protesters could cross safely. Their behavior seemed to send a message of support and not one of division.

“I think under Chief Chesley’s leadership, along with the leaders of this group, we saw an example of what a protest should look like,” Sweetin said. “I think that was the Chief’s goal; we wanted to be an example for other communities, and this is it. It is great.”

On a small strip of grass in front of City Hall, protesters quietly took a knee with a raised fist. Then they lay face first on the grass with hands bound behind their back shouting, “I can’t breathe!” for a period of about nine minutes. These were some of the final words of Floyd to the policeman who was holding him down.

The crowded ended by chanting George Floyd’s name for another two minutes before disbanding peacefully.

Many passing vehicles honked their horns in support or waved and gave a thumbs up to the assembled protesters. Vehicles even pulled over to offer the demonstrators cold bottles of water.

“I am here today because I just want everybody to be treated equally,” said protest participant Michelle Connor. “Mesquite is a good town. It is my home. I have always had a good relationship with everyone in the community, including the police.

“But there are still areas where people lack education; or maybe it is compassion and love,” Connor added. “I don’t ever want to be scared to look over my shoulder just because of the color of my skin and I don’t ever want my daughters to be scared either. That is what I want for them: for them to never have to be scared because of the color of their skin. That’s it. That is all I want.”

When asked what message was most important to deliver, protester Cheyenne Smith said, “Above all else we are one race: the human race!”
Coretta Smith added, “Our color does not define who we are as a person.”

Warren Brown said, “To the next generation, please, please, spread kindness however you can.”

Mesquite native Rachel Morris said the group is misunderstood. “People keep thinking that because we are saying black lives matter that we mean no one else’s life matters and that is not true,” she said. “I have always respected the cops here in Mesquite. My brother and I never felt disrespected [by community members] growing up, at least not on purpose. It’s the few rotten apples that make everyone else look bad.”

Joel Awich was proud of protesters and their behavior. “As an African American, I am very proud of what is going on,” he said. “Until we get the justice and the fairness and the equality that we want, we have to keep going. Education is a big part of growth. I would love to see education take place.”

An African American young man named Albert was taking pictures and interviewing protesters. He was impressed with the respectful nature of the gathering. “So far, what I have seen is a peaceful protest of people, different races, different backgrounds, and they have been nice to me and no violence,” he said.

“You know that is what America needs. We gotta keep this country great and forever great, you know? We gotta find a way to bring these people together.”

“Division is not a way to build a country,” Albert concluded. “But unity will keep us going forward and stronger and conquer our enemies.”