The Springboro event organizers, Katherine Cismesia and Brooklynne Stange, both 16, are students from Springboro High School.
They organized the event because they wanted to see the community “come together in a safe way on this important issue,” Cismesia said.
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Protesters in Springboro were gathering in North Park, not far from Ohio 741 and Ohio 73. Many of the demonstrators were high-school age, but some were adults.
Kendra Cunningham said that as a black family living in predominantly white Springboro, it was important for her to know that other people in town recognize that this is a serious issue.
Cunningham was sitting with her friends, Derek and Sarah Scott, who are white.
“In a super white suburb, it’s nice to see people willing to step out of their comfort zone,” Derek Scott said.
Cunningham said living in Springboro, it is sometimes easy to pretend that racism doesn’t affect her and her family because they don’t see things like the killing of Floyd in places like Springboro.
“But it’s the little things that add up,” Cunningham said.
She said it was encouraging to see so many young people out on Tuesday.
One of those youths was Tony Thach.
“As a minority, we have to stand up for other minorities,” Thach said. “I would have been here if only five people showed up. I think this is really important.”
The 15-year-old Asian American said that he was surprised at the number of people who came to the protest, but happy to see everyone.
“People need to do whatever they can, sign every single petition and educate themselves and others on this issue,” Thach said.
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