A show of support – EWU students hold Juneteenth march

CHENEY- “Hands up! Don’t shoot!”

“I can’t breathe!”

“Say their names! George Floyd! Breonna Taylor!”

These were some of the chants ringing as around 30 people participated in a Juneteenth march in Cheney Friday in support of the Black Lives Matter movement.

Organized by EWU super-senior Justin Heller, a history major, the march was mostly students, although there were some locals who joined as well.

The roughly 90-minute event started with a walk from Showalter Hall on the EWU campus before heading down College Avenue, turning west down Second Street, veering north back toward the Red Barn (where EWU’s campus police office resides) and finally ending back at Showalter. During this walk, Heller led chants through a megaphone while many participants held up signs.

The walk remained peaceful. Nearly every marcher wore a mask or other type of face covering. An EWU police car escorted the marchers in front, while another officer followed from behind for about half the walk.

After the walk, the event concluded with a time for people to share their thoughts about the Black Lives Matter movement, systemic racism in America and other current issues and events.

Drew Lawson can be reached at drew@cheneyfreepress.com.