(© Jon Hardison for FlaglerLive)
Ten minutes before 6 there were all of six people in front of the Bunnell community center, including Sims Jones, standing at the entrance of the center in a translucent white shirt that refracted sunlight like snow. “They’re arriving,” he said, unconcerned. The march, never branded with a particular name but unmistakably kin to Black Lives Matter marches that have been taking place across the country, was to start at 6 p.m.
And somehow by then the parking lot filled up with people, music, signs and hugs, so that by the time the marchers began their modest loop within Bunnell they numbered upward of 100—more if you include the eight cars that, by the end, had paralleled and escorted the marchers back to the pavilion in the Carver Gym playground, where the organizer, Bunnell resident Courtney Ousley—who prefers to go by Ras Nico (“Ras” is Arabic for head, or chief)—Jones and others summed up the one-hour event with more of the calls for unity and “all lives matter” refrains that had animated the march.
There was no question about the message, adorning numerous colorful signs—“Black Lives Matter,” “All Lives Matter,” “Please Don’t Shoot Me,” “No One Is Above the Law Stop Police Violence” and several signs calling for justice for Corey Tanner, the young black man, allegedly a fugitive, gunned down by U.S. Marshals in Espanola two years ago even though he was unarmed. Participants amplified the message with chants to unity and harmony across all colors, and for responsibility within the black community.
Anyone who assumes that the marchers or the black lives movement they reflect would somehow be confrontational, angry, even biased—let alone “racist,” as a few malinformed extremists have called it—would have been disappointed this afternoon. Nico took some pleasure in the size of the crowd, ridiculing an earlier call today, in these pages, for the march to be postponed in light of the Baton Rouge shootings.
Rev. Wendy Butler, the assistant pastor at Fellowship Restorational, opened and closed the event with rousing prayers: “we ask that what we’re doing is not in vain,” she said, adding to approval that “not just black lives matter but all lives matter, black, white, green, purple, all lives matter.” And she said, “Lord, we ask that you put protection on our police department, too. Just have your way with them Lord, let them understand where we’re coming from. Let us all be able to work together as one.”
It would have been unnecessary anyway. The marchers got honks from passing cars or cars stopped at crossing points, from all appearances honks of support. Those who walked by or drove by drew their cell phones to take pictures or video, as many marchers did, several of them broadcasting the entire march live on social media. The only punishing thing was the sun as marchers kept a brisk pace and chanted, “We need community, we need unity, we need justice.”
Stacey Watson, 42, is a Bunnell native but has live in Palm Coast the past 16 years. She was eager to march. “I will support anybody that’s doing anything that’s positive,” she said. “We have to get together more often instead of just when something tragic happens. We need to be together before it happens.”
But the getting together was limited to blacks: among all the marchers, only two were white, three by the time the event concluded at the pavilion. The third was John Pollinger, who ran for sheriff four years ago and is now helping the Don Fleming campaign for sheriff. He had just returned from a funeral, so he didn’t make the actual marching.
Back to back says
Corey Tanner was a gang member who tried to kill someone with a gun in Bunnell. Then barricaded himself when the marshalls came to arrest him. What did anyone expect to happen?
Anonymous says
yaaa look at mee!! look at mee!!!
see me be black!!!!!
dave says
I love Bunnell
r&r says
What a wonderful thing from these people who understand what it’s all about. I hope this message is carried across the country and bring a halt to the insanity now? Along with that, a good start will be when the cause of these problems are gone and that is OBAMA.
Born and Raised Here says
I pray for change.
footballen says
Truly happy to see no violence. Great job by the organizers. That picture is phenomenal!!!
Anon says
I really think tanners mothers statement should have been exempt from this article. DON’T GET ANGRY AT ME. And I mean this in good faith. But it really took away from the purpose of what these people marched for. Her sons life mattered. Yes. But all police aren’t bad. All Caucasian aren’t racist. All African Americans aren’t gang members. We are all human. We all deserve respect. Until we learn to shake the hands of the people we normally wouldn’t and respect those we believe are bad people because of stereo types our country won’t get any better. Bigotry is LEARNED. UNLEARN IT. BE KIND TO ONE ANOTHER.
And again. I really mean this is good faith. I love everyone of you even if ill never meet you in my lifetime. I love you and I care about you. Be kind today. And everyday. Please. For the sake of this country. Don’t target anyone for their color or career. Be KIND.
Geezer says
Love the black and white photo. Makes want to run out and buy some Tri-X 400 film!
But for now it’s digital and Photoshop, until I find a suitable film developer.
I miss driving through Bunnell–it’s such an interesting place with lot’s of history.
Barry Hartmann says
Great job by all involved. That was the right way to get a message across . With one exception, let’s not forget what Tanner was, a gang banger and killer. You reap what you sow!
Rita May says
Beautiful picture of a lovely lady and a precious baby, who will be our future. Hope she grows up in a peaceful world.
JJ says
Not a fan of BLM , but as to the Bunnel event I say points fairly made and respected.
W.Ryan says
???Why would we expect violence in a peace march? BTW Brenda Williams spoke from the heart. Experience leads to wisdom. Why would this be left out? For the people that cannot understand I’ll rephrase “Black Lives Matter Also”. Great coverage!
anon says
To those who say Corey Tanner was a gang member he was not and there is nothing to prove he was and even if he was does that make his life any less valuable than your. He uses his firearm as self defense which is very rational. Barricaded???? He exited the home with a cologne bottle which was mistaken as a gun. He was lied on by the BPD just because they disliked him.
A little Common Sense please says
I’ve still got a bad feeling about all of this. A couple of Kooky Black’s shot some white police. The next thing will be some Kooky white supremacists will shoot some Black people and there goes the starting of a race war. The worst representatives from both sides will be speaking through violence. I pray this doesn’t happen but don’t be surprised if it does.
jasonb says
Note to A Little common Sense please, The kooky white supremacists have been torturing and lynching black people for 150+ years.