CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP) – People in western Massachusetts will continue to make their voices heard this weekend.
Protesters will gather for rallies and marches in Franklin, Hampshire, and Hampden counties on Saturday and Sunday to support the Black Lives Matter movement and protest against police brutality and racism.
A peaceful protest will be taking place in Chicopee on Saturday in memory of Geroge Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and others who lost their lives at the hands of police. The protest will start at Szot Park at 3:00 p.m. and continue down to the police station.
Melaica Delgato organizer of the march told 22News, “People of color in the city of Chicopee and in the United States are not going anywhere. We need to be respected and as equal as the Caucasian and white citizens are in this country.”
People will also gather at the Northampton Police Department at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday and at the Greenfield Common at 12:30 p.m.
On Sunday, a few East Longmeadow High School students have planned a peaceful protest at the First Congregational Church at 4:00 p.m and people in Monson will gather in front of the Monson Police Department at Noon.
Businesses across western Massachusetts have been preparing for the weekend of protests by boarding up windows and doors as a precaution. Many police stations have set up a barrier of fences as well. However, almost all of the protests in Western Massachusetts have been peaceful.
Protests on Saturday
- Chicopee – at Szot Park for 3:00 p.m. (Start at Szot park and end at Chicopee PD)
- Northampton – Northampton Police Department at 4:00 p.m.
- Greenfield – Greenfield Town Common at 12:30 p.m.
- Springfield – Meet at Nathan Bills at Island Pond Road for 1:00 p.m. and march to Nathan Bill Park
Protests on Sunday
- East Longmeadow – First Congregational Church at 4:00 p.m.
- Monson – In front of the Monson Police Department at Noon
- Amherst – Amherst Commons at 3:00 p.m. – Educators for Black Lives Matter
The organizers of all of these protests want the protests to remain peaceful and are stressing that people practice social distancing and wear masks.
Do you know of any protests happening this weekend? Send your information to reportit@wwlp.com