Nearly a year after thousands of San Diegans took to the streets and marched from Waterfront Park to Hillcrest to protest racial injustice in America, a smaller group followed the same path on Saturday to call for unity.
Some 35 people ed the “How many more? Unity march for social racial justice” march organized by San Diego resident Charlie Brown — who also helped put together the march last year that drew thousands.
Although turnout was considerably smaller this year, Brown said it’s just as impactful to reflect on the movement and urge the community to come together.
“This year I wanted to take just a little bit different approach and make it be about unity where everyone’s invited not only to reflect on the murders that have happened at the hands of police but just to bring about community,” Brown said.
The march was led by people playing drums, trumpets and saxophones. People carried signs that read “Unity march” and displayed images of Breonna Taylor, who was shot to death by police officers who were conducting a raid at her home in Louisville, Ky., in March 2020. Saturday would have been her 28th birthday.
The group started at Waterfront Park and made its way through Hillcrest until it reached the Pride Flag on University Avenue, where speakers took turns sharing personal stories and reasons for getting involved with calls for social justice.
Brown said he hopes the city will take action in reimagining policing and reallocating funds from police departments to communities. Brown, who is African American, said he has had negative experiences with police officers during traffic stops.
He said people need to continue having conversations to ensure everyone is treated equally by police without the individual’s race playing a role in how officers respond.
“That’s the point of this march, to bring unity between communities so we can come together and at least start conversations in a positive manner,” Brown said.
The group’s message of unity stood out to San Diego resident Tim Lee. He said the last year created a huge divide among neighbors on the subject of law enforcement and racial justice.
“It hurts,” Lee said of the divide.
Brown, who lives in Little Italy, is planning on filming a documentary about the movement from last year and ongoing efforts to call for social and racial justice.
