11 Protest; No Damage
By Tom Peterson
The death of 46-year-old George Floyd in Minneapolis on May 25 brought eleven protestors to the streets of The Dalles on Saturday evening at 5:30 p.m. Protests around the country, marred by burning vehicles and broken windows, were into their third and fourth days.
“Big cities are not the only places that have problems,” said Red Stevens of The Dalles. He held a sign reading “No Justice No Peace”. “I’m not accusing anyone. I know people have difficulties because of their color around here.” he said.
The protestors covered the four corners at Third and Court streets, receiving honks and waved from some of those driving by.
Heath Kowalewski of Hood River held a sign that read “Say his name George Floyd RIP”.
“I feel like it is my responsibility as a white person to step up and show up and ask other white folks that have privilege to ask what’s going on. All white people are benefiting from the systems that are harming and killing black and brown people.”
The idea of holding the local protest sparked well over 900 comments on The Dalles Happenings Facebook page on Saturday. Many in favor and against, and some worrying that property would be damaged in the community as had taken place in larger cities across the country.
The protest was peaceful and no property damage occurred, according to police logs released this morning.
On Saturday, protestor Sherrin Ungren of The Dalles said it was not peaceful protestors such as this group in The Dalles that were doing damage. She placed blame on white supremacists and anarchists for setting fires and damaging property in the bigger cities throughout the country.
Adrienne Lee, right, and Heath Kowalewski joined a protest in The Dalles on Saturday.
