‘A way to center queer people in SLO.’ Protesters gather downtown to honor activist
Protesters gathered in downtown San Luis Obispo on Friday afternoon for a memorial demonstration in honor of Marsha P. Johnson.
The Black transgender activist played a significant part in LGBTQ rights movements, including the 1969 Stonewall Riots.
“I was looking for a way to center queer people in SLO, especially Black queer people,” protest organizer Luca MacDougall said. “I wanted to have a place where people feel comfortable speaking.”
The demonstration began around 3 p.m. Friday at Mission Plaza and was organized by Queer SLO Youth in support of Black Lives Matter, according to a flier.
After speeches from local protesters, the group of 100 to 150 people lined up along the sidewalk on Monterey Street across from Finney’s Crafthouse & Kitchen and Giuseppe’s outdoor dining parklets.
According to organizers, the group lined up outside of Giuseppe’s because the Italian dining restaurant donated to San Luis Obispo County Sheriff Ian Parkinson’s 2018 election campaign.
Parkinson has recently received criticism following his comments about the Black Lives Matter movement at a North County Tea Party.
Protesters alternated between chanting “Hey, hey, Ho, ho. Dan Dow has got to go,” “Out of the stores and into the streets” and “Recall Ian Parkinson.”
At one point, 5-year-old Precious Agoruah led protesters in a “Black Lives Matter” chant.
Her mother, Josephine, has helped organize recent anti-racism protests in San Luis Obispo and said she wants her daughter to grow up fighting for racial justice.
“I want her to see what I do, I wan her to see this as an example,” Josephine said.
Protester Dimi Hall said Friday’s protest was a way to peacefully show that the movement is not leaving San Luis Obispo.
“First and foremost, I’m out here because Black Lives Matter,” Hall said. “I feel like we have been intimidated by police recently, in the past few weeks and I feel like this is the moment to vocalize our dissatisfaction with the way San Luis Obispo has been run.”
Michael Giuffre, who has been a speaker at recent protests, shared Hall’s sentiment.
“Protesting is one of the most peaceful ways that we could be pushing for certain rights, or certain laws to be changed,”Giuffre said. “We are all coming together to see systemic change.”
The demonstration lasted about an hour before protesters marched to the San Luis Obispo County courthouse. The protest ended after about two hours.
The protest comes after weeks and months of local anti-racism demonstrations.
