A crowd estimated by police to be 500-600 people, the majority of them wearing face coverings due to the COVID-19 pandemic, gathered in Parkville on Sunday, June 14 for what was called the Parkville March for Unity. The event began with speeches near Parkville City Hall and the group later marched to downtown, ending in the parking lot of the Parkville Farmers Market area. Organizers said the event was planned as a peaceful protest “in support of human rights, equality and peace in our streets,” unifying “to amplify the black community that has gone unheard for too long.” During the march downtown, the group chanted phrases including “no justice, no peace,” “silence is violence,” “hands up, don’t shoot,” “George Floyd,” and carried signs that included “Black Lives Matter.” Organizers added that the protest “serves as a time and space for people to grieve, honor and raise their voices. We are unifying to amplify the black community that has gone unheard for far too long. Despite our progress, we still continue to see, feel and experience injustice every day in our communities here in North Kansas City.” The group added that “we are unified in our position that there must be justice for people of color in order for there to be justice at all.”
As the parade of protesters turned off Main and into the Farmers Market parking lot area, Parkville Police Chief Kevin Chrisman was walking with the front edge of the group.
On a related topic, the City of Parkville late last week removed two historical markers that the city says had drawn recent complaints from citizens who felt some references on the markers were offensive. The markers noted, among other items, that Parkville had been home to “slave, tobacco and hemp market.” See more info here
Ivan Foley/Landmark photo