Peaceful Demonstration March and Rally draws crowd on Saturday

On Saturday a group of over 100 people gathered for a peaceful demonstration and march in downtown Toccoa.

The demonstration and March took place at the Emory Johnson Park on West Whitman Street.

Sephia Berryman was in attendance during Saturday’s demonstration. She tells WNEG News about the event.

“Today we’re just raising awareness for the countless people who have died from police brutality or from police involved shootings in general. This is a peaceful rally, we’re going to have a few speeches and a few songs and some fellowship,” she said.

Asher Ward and his brother Isaac Ward were in attendance. Asher says he wanted to stand against injustice in our community.

Isaac said the demonstration opened his eyes to things that he was unaware of.

Following the March, US House District 9 Democratic Candidates Devin Pandy and Brooke Siskin spoke about what the community can do to begin combating police brutality and racism across the United States.

Pandy spoke about the purpose of marching.

“Until the philosophy that holds one race superior and another inferior is finally and permanently discredited and abandoned everywhere is war. Until there is no longer first-class and second-class citizens of any nation, and until the color of a man’s skin is no more significant that the color of his eyes everywhere is war. These are the wise words sung by the late, great Bob Marley. Tomorrow, someone might tell you that Devin Pandy wants war, but that’s not what that meant. What I’m saying is there has always been war, and historically, race has been a main reason for war, and this country has waged war against my race for 401 years. This is why we march,” he said.

Following the demonstration, the group passed out a pamphlet that has a list of ways to support the black community.

Those include: hold elected officials accountable; support black-owned businesses; be vocal in your community, schools, and recruit diverse officials; encourage youth in the community; encourage education; speak up when you see racism; and amplify black voices and voices of people of color.