Thousands Will March For Racial Justice In Brooklyn And Across The Nation This Weekend

DUMBO, BROOKLYN — Thousands of protesters are expected to gather on the National Mall, in Brooklyn and in cities across the nation this weekend to protest racial justice.

The protests are a response to the acquittal of the Minnesota police officer who fatally shot Philando Castile during a traffic stop, which his girlfriend recorded, in 2016, organizers said.

“We see black and brown people being shot down with impunity by police and white supremacists inciting terror in our cities,” activists wrote on the March For Racial Justice website. “So many of us carry fear with us every single day.”

The march also comes in the wake of the Charlottesville rally where three people died and dozens were injured during conflicts between white supremacists and those who opposed them. President Donald Trump garnered much criticism after he blamed "many sides" for the violence on Aug. 12.

Protesters will begin gathering in Brooklyn at 12:30 p.m. Sunday at the Jay Street Plaza near Jay and High streets. The March for Racial Injustice will begin at 3 p.m.

(For more Brooklyn Heights news, subscribe to Patch to get a daily newsletter and breaking news alerts.)

More than 750 people had promised to attend the Brooklyn march on Facebook and about 3,100 people had expressed interest as of Friday morning.

March for Racial Justice organizers across the nation have planned 14 sister marches in California, Florida, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Texas and Washington State.

The sister marches were originally scheduled for Saturday, the date of the Washington D.C. march, but rescheduled when Jewish activists noted Sept. 30 was Yom Kippur.

Organizers said in a statement that their mistake showcased, “the need for our communities to form stronger relationships.”

Photo courtesy of Patch reporter William Bornhoft