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Black Lives Matter caravan travels through 5 metro Detroit cities

Posted at 5:30 PM, May 30, 2020
and last updated 2020-06-03 09:24:08-04

(WXYZ) — Cities across the nation are seeing protests in the midst of a pandemic.

There was a demonstration of unity on the east side Saturday afternoon as police, city officials and community members protested systemic racism and brutality against African-Americans.

"I’m in my 60s, I can’t march like I did when I was 20 or 30."

Tamika Kennedy joined hundreds of others in her vehicle for a caravan supporting Black Lives Matter, in cooperation with the Harper Woods Police and the mayor and several community organizations.

"I think this is even better than out on the street compared to like Friday night downtown."

Friday night in Detroit, nearly 60 people were arrested as tensions grew, most from outside the city of Detroit according to police. Earlier in the day, hundreds more protested peacefully.

Demanding justice and change following the death of 46 year old George Floyd in the video now seen around the world, showing a Minneapolis police officer kneeling on his neck.

"For 9 minutes we watched him die. That is no way for anyone black or white to die, and these things have been happening a disproportionate amount in the African American community."

Deedee Kirby
"It’s just too much. I mean there’s only so much you can take," said Deedee Kirby.

With honks instead of chants, messages carried on vehicles instead of on foot, the caravan traveled through five cities.

"With this group here, people want to see change. People are understanding that this can’t go on, that car says white silence is violence I mean that speaks volumes there."

Jeff Wolfe brought his two kids.

"We need to use this as a teaching opportunity, an educational moment."

From our health case system dysfunction to our policing dysfunction – it's now just being brought to the surface. These issues that have always been here."

As cures and vaccines are being developed to end the COVID-19 pandemic, "we also need to develop a cure for this injustice that’s infecting our country today."