More than 1,000 Las Vegas residents gather at park to call for end to police brutality

LAS VEGAS (KSNV) – There was a large gathering in the central Friday night.

People of all races, religions, and backgrounds stood in solidarity for the We Deserve To Live rally.

"No justice, no peace. No racist police," chanted Minister Stretch Sanders, who organized the Black People Matter event.

"I have a 16-year-old son who said 'mom I am a target, Am I going to be next? Do you think I'm going to be killed by the police?'" said Shon Murray, one of the many participants attending.

Murray is talking about her son Nijel.

They are among the thousands of people around the country demonstrating to bring an end to systemic racism in America.

"My son is 16 years old," said Murray. "He has a 3.9 GPA. He started a non-profit organization called Klothes For Kids that helps children in foster care. And does any of that really matter when the color of his skin is the weapon that everyone fears?"

In a crowd of all races, holding signs reading Black Lives Matter, people said enough is enough when it comes to police brutality.

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Minister Sanders leading the sea of people at Kianga Isoke Palacio Park.

"We're tired," he said to the crowd. "We're sick, tired of what's going on. So that's what we're doing today. We're coming out. We're going to have some solutions."

While organizers say the message is in the hands of the community, change must also come from our lawmakers.

That is why they are trying to get a bill passed against the excessive use of force by law enforcement."

"We're asking for the governor and all of the state officials to sign a bill that states if an officer uses excessive force, they are fired, charged, and convicted immediately," said Minister Sanders to a crowd of cheers.

"Right now they feel like they're above the law of some sort," said Joseph Camel, a demonstrator at Friday's rally. "So, I think by having them getting legislation a part of it, just getting the whole government involved is letting them know they're with us. They're for us."

Julie Carnes says the change is especially important to her because of her sons and grandchildren.

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"I'm worried about their future," she said. "I have two sons actually, but I have a grandson in my care also. It's not just the men - it's the race period. They need to know what's going on. They need to know how to do things in a proper manner."

"Racism is built and baked into systems and to structures and that's the change that we want," said Murray. "We want equality. Thank God we don't want revenge. We just want equality."

It's a change demonstrators say seems closer when all people are unified.