A small group of marchers met at a Walmart in Lehigh Acres on Saturday morning, adding their voices and support to calls for racial equality after George Floyd’s death.
About 40 people of varying ages and races carried umbrellas and placards in the rain, drawing attention to the cause. They began at 11 am with the call of “No Justice, No Peace ” and “George Floyd matters” as they walked west on Lee Boulevard.
Lee County Sheriff’s deputies blocked off roads for the marchers as they crossed safely through intersections.
The signs they carried included “Good cops need to police bad cops,” “Stop the hate” and a young boy carrying a red sign reading “We are the future.”
At least one protester raised his right fist as he walked, a symbol of solidarity and support. It is also used as a salute to express unity, strength, defiance, or resistance. Olympians Tommie Smith and John Carlos famously used it during their 1968 medal ceremony in Mexico City during the playing of the US national anthem, “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
A few motorists honked in support, the tires on their cars kicking up mist as they passed.
It is the eighth day of rallies, marches and protests across Southwest Florida, the first in Lehigh Acres.