Othello marchers bring attention to problem of racism in society
OTHELLO — About 80 to 100 people gathered at Othello City Hall on Saturday afternoon to raise awareness of, and demonstrate opposition to, racism and racist attitudes.
The march was prompted by the death of a Minneapolis man, George Floyd, in police custody. Floyd’s death in late May has prompted protests across the country.
“In a nutshell, we’re here to bring awareness,” co-organizer Angelina McGrath said. She was one of four women who organized the march. The others were Diana (Dimini) Flores, Destiny Estrada and Karinna Prado.
Flores said she didn’t think of the march as a protest, but more of an effort to bring awareness to Othello. Rather than complain about a situation, people need to make their voices heard, she said.
Some drivers passing by honked in approval as the marchers walked down Main Street to 14th Avenue, then back to Fourth Avenue before returning to City Hall. They carried signs denouncing racism and police misconduct.
“We’re basically spreading awareness to our community,” Estrada said.
Othello hasn’t experienced a case like the one in Minneapolis, she said, but it’s still important to speak out against instances of injustice.
Estrada said she had never experienced any similar mistreatment but that she had been judged for her ethnicity. Even though it was a minor incident, “I was not prepared for it,” she said.
“Racism is a terrible problem,” said Adam Jones, one of the marchers. He and members of his family attended the march to help bring attention to it, and to fighting it, he said.
Racism might not affect an individual, Flores said, but that doesn’t mean it’s not an important topic. People should be prepared to speak up for others, if they see a person being treated badly due to being different, she said. But people need to learn to do it in a peaceful way.
Flores said if people unite against racism, they can defeat it.
McGrath urged people to educate themselves about issues that are important to them, then register to vote and follow through.
Cheryl Schweizer can be reached via email at [email protected].
