FORT MYERS, Fla. — Over the last few weeks, we’ve seen protests in every state in our country as many stand up against racial injustice.
Fox 4 spoke with several protesters that gathered in Downtown Fort Myers on Saturday, some even calling for the permanent removal of the Robert E. Lee bust.
Many people say they march not only for George Floyd but for Ahmad Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and all the other black lives lost to racial injustice.
“I’m tired of people putting us down talking about us, treating us like we’re not nothing. We are somebody, we belong to somebody.”
Hundreds gather at Centennial Park to show support for the black lives matter movement.
“When the world gone wake up? When the world gone wake up?”
There have been nearly two weeks of protests here in Southwest Florida, but centuries of systematic oppression.
People say they are not letting up in the push for racial equality, justice, and a brighter future for those to come.
“I’m talking for every mother who has lost a son, not mine…not mine…not mine. You can not have mine, you can not…with your hatred.”
For the countless lives of black sons and daughters lost to police brutality, protesters take 8 minutes and 46 seconds honoring the life of 46-year old George Floyd killed in police custody in Minneapolis.
“It is not only black people and that community to care, that it is important for the whole community to care, ” said Libby Jones.
The Southwest Florida Justice March was organized by the youth group "Keep Robert E. out of Lee."
The youth group collected signatures for the George Floyd Memorial, and signatures to keep the Robert E. Lee Memorial out of downtown Fort Myers.
“This is our future, I never thought I would see so many white people joining in a fight for justice, ” Richard Smith.
Some were in opposition, saying the counties’ confederate monuments are not symbols of hatred.
“This does not stand for racism, this stands for we fought and you can not change history, our monuments need to stay.”
One protester offered a plan of action, for so many desperately pleading for change.
“We can not beat the system with violence. We can’t beat them with hands because they have handcuffs, we can’t beat them with guns because they have guns too. We have to understand that if we want to be violent, we have to go and vote, ” said Richard Smith.
