Jefferson City Protest organizer: "We're here to make a statement, not a scene"

JEFFERSON CITY — "I have people I call family, brothers and sisters who live in fear every single day and I don't. So, until they live as I do and they don't live wondering whose next, it's my job to fight for them," Jefferson City protest organizer Chantilly Watson said.

The Facebook event "I can Breathe; So I won't be quiet" is scheduled to start at the Capitol Monday evening at 6:30 p.m. Over 900 people on Facebook have confirmed their attendance or expressed interest.

For those who ordered T-shirts, pick up will begin at 6:30 p.m. and the walk will begin at 7:30 p.m.

Watson said she's been in touch with Cole County Sheriff's Department and JCPD and it's imperative for protesters to stay on the sidewalk.

"They [law enforcement] have told me that we have to stay on the sidewalks. We do not have a permit this evening. We do have to stay on the sidewalks to keep everybody safe with COVID, as well as construction going on at the capital. There are different laws about where protesting can take place for the safety of us as well as the black lives attending," Watson said.

Watson said everyone has a part to play in combating injustice.

She said her message is, "That it stops here. That it stops at your family. That it doesn't matter the generational thoughts that you've been taught. It doesn't matter what you've heard. It doesn't matter what you think that you know," Watson said. "It has to stop at your family and if we all as a community, as a generation, had the racism stop at our family, it would never continue."

Protest supporter Jackie Taylor said she appreciates Watson for being an ally and organizing the event.

"Of course, being black, I appreciate her putting this together. Because, it shows that she wants to make a difference," Taylor said. "She wants to make a change. In addition, she wants to be educated and I think that's the biggest thing for me is that just people to be educated."

With racial tensions continuing to rise across the nation Taylor said, "We understand that people are angry, they're frustrated, they're confused but use that frustration, that anger and make a difference."

Taylor said love has to be a core component of communities across the world.

This world lacks love. Because without love, this is how hate begins and I think that's the biggest thing a lot of people have and so I just want to be out there, supporting Tilly [Watson], supporting those who look like me and seeing that we can make that change.

And of course, Jefferson City being the capital of Missouri, it starts with us. So that way, we can be an example for other cities here in Missouri.

Watson encouraged community members to educate others around them. She also challenged people to try and empathize with how they would feel if this happened to a loved one.

"Educating your family, educating your friends, your loved ones, because I think that's the biggest thing that we're seeing. A lot of people are not educated and then we're seeing people just out here showing hate. It's not about hate, we're not trying to project hate with these protests. We're trying to do it peacefully and so it's about educating them." Taylor said. "If this were to happen to your brother, your sister, your husband, your wife, your mother, your father, would you feel the same way?"

Watson said she knows many community members are outraged, frustrated, and confused about the Floyd's death.

"Just because I'm calm, I can't tell the next person who is angry, confused and frustrated how to behave. I can't tell them how to grieve. I can't tell them how to process all of this. So you coming with hate and this person next to me has all this rage and anger, that's going to start a battle that we don't want to create with this protest."

Law Enforcement

Watson encouraged community members to embrace law enforcement agencies and officers that have spoken out about the death of George Floyd.

"The Jefferson City Police Department, they reached out to us [protest organizers] and offered to come and pray with us at the beginning of the protest. Which, I would encourage everyone to embrace because maybe this is the start of the change that we are wanting to see," Watson said.

JCPD Lt. David Williams said, they're aware of the protest and working with all area law enforcement on plans for the event.

Williams said, "They all want a peaceful protest."

Watson said she wants to thank Cole County Sheriff's department for its Facebook Post.

"I would like to start by thanking the Cole County Sheriff's office for the post they made on Facebook, to letting them[the community] know that they stand with us and they too are devastated at the loss of George Floyd," Watson said.

Protest plans and route

Protesters will start marching at 7:30 p.m. at High Street in front of the capital and end at Lincoln University.

"I've asked everyone whose willing to fill the streets of Jefferson City with prayer for me and with me of support of the black lives lost," Watson said. "Pray for their families, and the victims who have been hurt by injustice of our system."

• Speakers
• Prayer
• March in silence for 9 minutes, representing the 9 minutes that the officer keeled on George Floyd's neck
• Kneel for at least 1 minute, representing that for George Floyd, and his family and every other black life lost to injustice.
• The protest will end at Lincoln University quad, near the tennis courts
• Lay on the ground for 9 minutes and say "I can't breathe," to show support to Floyd's family and bring awareness to what took place

Watson stressed the event is a peaceful protest and stressed the importance participants staying on the sidewalks in the entire time.

It is going to be a peaceful protest, we're making a statement, we're not making a scene.