SLO protests continue into the weekend as demonstrators hold silent sit-in for Black lives
San Luis Obispo residents gathered for a fourth time this week in downtown San Luis Obispo to protest against racism and come together in support of Black lives.
Saturday’s demonstration in front of the San Luis Obispo County Courthouse at 1 p.m. was promoted as a ‘Silent sit-in for Black lives’ organized by young Black, indigenous and other people of color.
San Luis Obispo resident Calvin Stokes, who helped organize the protest, said the purpose of the silent demonstration was to remain peaceful and be seen.
“Tuesday, we were boisterous, we said everything we wanted to say, we had everything we needed to say, this was done to show the diversity of our protest,” Stokes said.
Shortly after the demonstration began, the group of about 250 people walked in a single-file line down Monterey Street.
Protesters lined up along businesses surrounding Giuseppe’s and Finney’s outdoor dining parklets. Protesters remained silent and stayed out of the doorways of businesses.
“We want to go where we’re going to be effective and people can see us and feel uncomfortable, the same feeling that you get when you’re in a car, when you’re a Black man, or a Hispanic man, or anybody and you’re being racially profiled,” Stokes said.
“We want everyone to see us and feel uncomfortable, recognize your uncomfort level and why you’re uncomfortable. Is it for the wrong reason?” Stokes added.
Protesters alternated between periods of standing and sitting for about two hours as restaurant-goers looked on and ate. At one point, a speaker addressed people at restaurants directly, saying that they need to take the movement seriously.
After about two hours, the protesters headed back to the front of the courthouse where Stokes and other organizers gave speeches.
Following speeches and a poem written by one of the organizers, other protesters were invited to take the mic and share why they were in support of the anti-racism movement. Several people spoke directly about Sheriff Ian Parkinson’s recent comments about the Black Lives Matter movement and called to defund the San Luis Obispo Police Department.
One protester led the group in a 3-minute, 33-second silent appreciation of Tianna Arata.
On Tuesday, an anti-racism protest which began as a peaceful rally and march ended with the arrest of protest organizer and local activist Arata after the protest route went onto Highway 101.
Arata was arrested on suspicion of five charges, including participating in a riot, according to San Luis Obispo police. Another protester who was near Arata during her arrest, Elias Bautista, was arrested on suspicion for assaulting an officer.
The protester who led the appreciation said he and many others should have been arrested on the same charges as Arata; however, because she has risen as a strong leader in the local movement, it was argued, she was targeted.
“I am just as guilty, and so are the majority of you guys here; the reason that Tianna got arrested is because she is a strong Black woman that (has what) 99% of the population doesn’t have to be able to lead this movement,” he said to the crowd. “You know what the biggest difference between Tianna and I, and why she got arrested and I didn’t, it’s because she is a strong Black woman, and I’m a white privileged man.”
Since Arata’s arrest and release from jail, many people have called the District Attorney’s Office requesting the charges be dropped. The DA’s Office released a statement Friday asking community members to be patient while it investigates the incidents that occurred Tuesday.
Silent demonstrations followed in the days after her arrest.
Saturday’s protest coincided with demonstrations around the nation, including in Santa Maria, in solidarity with Portland, Oregon, protesters.
While the police presence was small throughout Saturday’s peaceful protest, dozens of peacekeepers and two legal observers were present.
“We wanted legal observers here to protect our rights as Americans with rights, to be able to protest,” Stokes said.
This story was originally published July 25, 2020 at 1:40 PM.
