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Dozens gather outside Louisville church in peaceful protest

Dozens gather outside Louisville church in peaceful protest
OTHERS ARE PROTESTING IN PEACE. THIS SIGN IS HUNG OUTSIDE THE FIRST UNITARIAN CHURCH IN DOWNTOWN LOUISVILLE. TODAY, THEY TOOK THAT MESSAGE TO THE STREETS AND SAY IT WAS IMPORTANT TO DO IT IN A PEACEFUL WAY. IN A STA CONTRAST, DOZENS GATHERED PEACEFULLY SUNDAY AFTERNOON. MANY HOLDING SIGNS DEMANDING NOT JUST EQUALITY, BUT JUSTICE. FLORENCE WESCOTT WAS IN THE -- IN HER 80’S. >> I DON’T WANT TO BE AFRAID. THEY ARE FREE. BLACK YOUNG MEN ARE NOT AND IT IS TERRIFYING. >> THE EYES ON THE WORLD ARE ON MINNEAPOLIS IN LOUISVILLE RIGHT NOW. WHAT WILL WE DO? >> REVEREND KYLE MADE IT CLEAR THAT HERS IS A CONGREGATION THAT DOESN’T CONDONE THE VIOLENCE AND VANDALISM THAT HAS PLAGUED THE CITY FOR THREE NIGHTS. >> LOOKING TO DO IT IN ANOTHER WAY BUT TO JOIN THE SAME MESSAGE THAT INJUSTICE IS NOT RIGHT AND WE ARE HERE TO FIGHT IT AND FIGHT IT ACTIVELY. >> IT IS A MESSAGE THAT A LOCAL CIVIL RIGHTS ICON HAS LIVED. SHE MARCHED PEACEFULLY TO PROMOTE CHANGE MORE THAN 50 YEARS AGO. SHE CALLED ON LOUISVILLE IAN’S -- LOUISVILLE CITIZENS TO PRAY. >> THEY ARE ALL OVER THE COUNTRY. IT IS NOT A DAY OF SUNDAY. SUNDAY IS OUR DAY OF PRAYER. REVEREND KYLE BELIEVES THAT THERE CAN BE CHANGE. >> IT IS BECAUSE OF CONGREGATIONS SUCH AS MIND THAT THERE WILL BE A RESPONSE AND THERE WILL BE ACTIVITY AND THERE WILL BE JUSTICE COMING
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Dozens gather outside Louisville church in peaceful protest
In a stark contrast to the late night riots over the past few days, dozens gathered peacefully Sunday afternoon along Fourth Street. With the occasional encouragement of a car horn, many held signs demanding not just equality but justice.Florence Lee Westcott, 81, was in that crowd. "My grandsons don't have to be afraid to go out in a car, or to walk down the street. They're free. Black young men are not and it's terrifying," Lee Westcott told WLKY when asked her reason for attending.Rev. Lori Kyle with First Unitarian Church of Louisville organized Sunday's rally, demanding justice for Breonna Taylor and George Floyd. She made it clear hers is a congregation that does not condone the violence and vandalism that has plagued the city for three nights."We're looking to do it in another way but to join the same message that injustice isn't right and to fight it and fight it actively," Rev. Kyle said.It is a message local civil rights icon Mattie Jones has lived. She marched peacefully alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to promote change more than 50 years ago. Jones called on those in Louisville to spend the day peacefully and in prayer, "The violence is not the answer, tearing up the city is not the answer. The tearing up all over the country is not the answer. Sunday is our day of prayer."And through prayer and peaceful demonstrations like Sunday's, Rev. Kyle believes there can be change."It's because of congregations such as mine that there will be a response and there will be activity and there will be justice coming out of these things that have happened," she said.About 40 people, including faith leaders and members of other congregations, attended Sunday's rally.

In a stark contrast to the late night riots over the past few days, dozens gathered peacefully Sunday afternoon along Fourth Street. With the occasional encouragement of a car horn, many held signs demanding not just equality but justice.

Florence Lee Westcott, 81, was in that crowd.

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"My grandsons don't have to be afraid to go out in a car, or to walk down the street. They're free. Black young men are not and it's terrifying," Lee Westcott told WLKY when asked her reason for attending.

Rev. Lori Kyle with First Unitarian Church of Louisville organized Sunday's rally, demanding justice for Breonna Taylor and George Floyd. She made it clear hers is a congregation that does not condone the violence and vandalism that has plagued the city for three nights.

"We're looking to do it in another way but to join the same message that injustice isn't right and to fight it and fight it actively," Rev. Kyle said.

It is a message local civil rights icon Mattie Jones has lived. She marched peacefully alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to promote change more than 50 years ago.

Jones called on those in Louisville to spend the day peacefully and in prayer, "The violence is not the answer, tearing up the city is not the answer. The tearing up all over the country is not the answer. Sunday is our day of prayer."

And through prayer and peaceful demonstrations like Sunday's, Rev. Kyle believes there can be change.

"It's because of congregations such as mine that there will be a response and there will be activity and there will be justice coming out of these things that have happened," she said.

About 40 people, including faith leaders and members of other congregations, attended Sunday's rally.