Demonstration In Randallstown Promotes Police Reform

RANDALLSTOWN, MD — A group marched for police reform Saturday on Liberty Road in Randallstown. The event was associated with the Black Lives Matter movement and coincided with the birthday of civil rights icon Nelson Mandela.

Frederick Strickland, a Windsor Mill resident who organized the march, said people needed to continue calling for change in the aftermath of the death of George Floyd.

"I want to keep up the pressure on local politicians to make good on what they're talking about, which is reform, and I want to increase the voter turnout," Strickland said.

"This is a perfect day to do it. It's July 18 — Nelson Mandela's birthday," he said. "Hopefully people will show up to march in his name, march for police reform, march for Black Lives Matter, march for George Floyd and continue on marching."

A rally for police reform was held earlier this month in Towson. It was hosted by Councilman Julian Jones, who represents Randallstown and proposed a police reform bill under consideration by the County Council.

"We want everybody to come and march for change, for the lives lost due to police involved shootings — the latest being Robert Johnson in Essex on May 17," the flyer for Saturday's march in Randallstown says. Johnson, 29, lived in the Garrison area.

"I hope the marches continue all the way up until election day. That's the only way that our elected officials will know that people have had enough," said Strickland, who is a history teacher in Baltimore City Public Schools.

A flyer for the event lists the following changes that organizers would like to see enacted: "Police and legal justice reform. No chokeholds. End no-knock warrants. Create national police registry."

Strickland said he invited state lawmakers. The Baltimore County executive and police chief received invitations to the event as well.

Strickland, who said he is a registered Democrat, noted the U.S. House of Representatives passed the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act earlier this summer. The bill is expected to die in the Senate, which is majority Republican.

Quoting U.S. Rep. John Lewis, who died Friday night, Strickland said: "Never give up, never give in."

The march for police reform started at 4 p.m. Saturday at 9002 Liberty Road, across from Randallstown Elementary School.

Together participants marched to the Randallstown Recreation Center at 3505 Resource Drive. At the end of the march route on Liberty Road, which is less than a mile away. Speakers delivered remarks, a performance celebrated Mandela's birthday and voter registration was encouraged.

Transportation was available for seniors to get back to their cars, according to the flyer promoting the event, which also stated: "Don't forget your masks, gloves, water, your voice!"

There is an air quality alert in effect, and temperatures are expected to be in the mid 90s Saturday, according to the National Weather Service.

See Also:

• Rally Calls For Baltimore County Police Reform
• Family Of Korryn Gaines Wins $38M Appeal Against Police: Court
• No Charges For Officer In Deadly Shooting In Baltimore County