Downtown Augusta sees pop-up protest against racial injustice

Though they only had a few hours to set it up, Alasya Owten and Francesca Collette-Hicks were determined to have a march against racial injustice on Broad Street Tuesday.

“Like 3 p.m. we started sending out stuff,” Hicks said.

“I actually called the sheriff to try to get a permit, but they actually told me it was pretty late,” Owten said. “I got in contact with the lieutenant of the sheriff department and he actually just sent me a confirmation email saying that we’ll be protected and safe out here.”

With that support and the power of social media, they brought over 100 supporters out to a peaceful protest in the heart of downtown Augusta. They started the march at 7:30 p.m. at the Augusta Common, did two loops along the Broad Street area and ended at the Confederate Monument between 7th and 8th streets. At the monument, several people had the opportunity to share their thoughts, including District 1 Commission candidate Jordan Johnson.

“What makes me so happy right now is when I look out across this plaza, and we shadow a statue that tells us we aren’t worth anything, we look out and see people of all races, all colors, all backgrounds, all social economics, are saying that we do matter and that our voices will be heard,” Johnson said.

This was the fifth event in the Augusta-area held in response to the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis after a police officer pressed his knee onto his neck. All five have been peaceful.

Owten and Collette-Hicks met at one of the other protests in the area, and were glad to see their own protest get the same kind of large turnout the others got.

“We never expected it to be this big, but it’s crazy just with the power of social media and getting that word out to people,” Hicks said.

The protests have been educational and motivational for many in the Augusta area, and it’s the kind of thing mother Veronica Cadena of Grovetown wanted her nine-year old son, Leo, to see and hear.

“I just think it’s important for him to know what’s going on,” Cadena said. “I’ve faced racism myself when I was growing up, and I think it’s important for him to understand what’s happening.”

So what were Leo’s thoughts on this issue?

“I hope everything can be great and we can live, like, a nice life, being friends with everyone,” he said. “Don’t be racist to each other.”