‘All lives won’t matter until black lives matter.’ Marches held in Los Banos, Chowchilla

Protests calling for an end to police brutality after the killing of George Floyd have spread to nearly every corner of the nation — and even small communities like Los Banos and Chowchilla are no exception.

Early Tuesday afternoon, a group of more than 100 people marched from Los Banos City Hall to Los Banos County Park, and then proceeded to walk through downtown.

Elsewhere on Tuesday, a march drawing many people also happened in the Madera County city of Chowchilla.

Floyd, an unarmed black man, died after being pinned down by Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin — an incident which was captured on video. Floyd repeatedly said “I can’t breathe” while being pinned to the ground by police. Video showed the officer kneeling on Floyd’s neck for several minutes before Floyd died at a hospital.

For many protesters nationwide, Floyd’s death is just the latest among many killings of black people by members of law enforcement and others. Oftentimes, as in Floyd’s death, the victims are unarmed.

As a result, the protesters are calling for law enforcement reforms to stop police brutality, and an end the systematic white supremacy at an institutional and societal level.

Rocky Via, 24, an organizer of Los Banos protest, said he’s lived in Los Banos for 18 years and moved back after college. Via thought it was important to come out and show support for the protest movement.

“Even if it doesn’t affect you, still you should care and I wanted to be sure that my community had the same beliefs that I did,” said Via.

Los Banos Police Chief Gary Brizzee said police stood by during event to assist with traffic and ensure the gathering was a success.

“Their message is really indifferent to me, I don’t mind what their message is. I just want them to have a peaceful, safe time, having their march to the park,” Brizzee said. “We’re actually here for them, we’re not here against them. That’s the main part of my message, is we are one community.”

Alice McClendon, 24, of Los Banos, said with the urban unrest that’s happened in other cities, having a peaceful protest is “absolutely needed,” in terms of calling for reforms and an end to police brutality.

“Even if we’re a tiny town, we’re a small community we still are full of so much love and we know that no-one deserves the brutality that has been faced by the police,” McClendon said. “All lives won’t matter until black lives matter.”

Gabby Marshall, 24, of Los Banos, echoed some of the other marchers sentiments. ‘I’m just baffled that racism is still going around even though it’s been (over) 200 years,” she said.

The gathering in Chowchilla, organized by the Merced branch of the NAACP, also was well attended. Allen Brooks, president of the chapter, said police took photos with attendees and all segments of the community were involved.

“This whole thing is about us and the community coming together . . . which includes the police,” Brooks said.

Brooks said the NAACP is planning to have a peaceful candlelight vigil at 7:30 p.m. Friday in front of the Merced Courthouse Museum at 21st and N streets in Merced.

This story was originally published June 2, 2020 at 5:45 PM with the headline "‘All lives won’t matter until black lives matter.’ Marches held in Los Banos, Chowchilla."