Niwot neighbors show support for Black Lives Matter

Valerie Cannistraro doesn't consider herself an activist, but in the wake of George Floyd's death at the hands of the Minneapolis police, the Brigadoon Glen resident felt compelled to speak out. On June 5, she and about 20 of her like-minded neighbors gathered at the northwest corner of 63rd Street and Niwot Road for a peaceful demonstration against police violence and racism.

"I think making a stand for what you believe in is always important," Cannistraro said, waving her sign at passing traffic. "We're all non-black, and I think some of us were scared to come out, because it felt like 'Are we allowed to do this?' But the thing is we're all one human race, and this is the only way we can unite."

The protest kicked off at the Left Hand Creek bridge shortly after 4 p.m. An initial group of nine marchers (and two happy dogs) then walked south along 63rd Street towards Niwot Road. They were joined by a dozen or so additional marchers at Misty Road, and the larger group then walked together to the intersection. There, they rallied for about an hour, waving signs and cheering as passing motorists honked or offered a friendly wave to show their support.

"We're marching today, because Black Lives Matter, and recently innocent people have been killed," sixth-grader Melody Carden said. She was at the protest with two classmates. "And we should all be aware that even if there's a different color of skin, it doesn't matter."

Like Carden, many of the protestors expressed support for George Floyd and BLM and said they hoped to bring awareness to an issue that can seem irrelevant when it happens far away.

"I think it's important for all of us in the community to consider unearned privilege regardless of the color of our skin," Toni Forman said. "I think some people naturally have an easier time in our culture, and we all need to consider that and find ways to elevate our society through growing our awareness and education."

Others also spoke out against inequality and injustice more generally, including Bob Cannistraro, who banged a cowbell as he marched. "To me, it transcends race- it's opportunity for all economic strata. That, to me, is what we need to be working for."

Sixth-grade social studies teacher Angela Leonard said the protest was a great way to show students and her fellow adults the role of direct action in a democracy, "This is how we become citizens. Our work as citizens is to stand up for ours and other peoples' rights, and if we don't, we might not have them."

The protest disbanded without incident after about an hour. Thanks to the largely positive response, the group hopes to continue gathering on Friday afternoons through the summer.

For Brigadoon Glen neighbor Osha Waters, however, fighting injustice has to go beyond slogans and marches.

"I really believe that none of us are free until everyone's free," she said. "I want to see individuals take the risk to put themselves in an uncomfortable position where they're speaking what matters. Because I think there's a lot of us who believe in freedom for all people, but who get too scared, and that perpetuates the problem. So, I want each of us to confront this, in individual ways, in little ways all the time, in our daily lives, because there's such a massive thing that needs to happen."