It started with noise and ended with silence. And it lasted two-hours-and-24 minutes with the last nine minutes in silence in honor of George Floyd. The Black Lives Matter protest on Saturday in Aledo included a march down South College Avenue and numerous speakers at Aledo Central Park, which was decorated by flags in advance of Flag Day on Sunday.
The event was organized by Mercer County High School students Illiawna Hook and Zoe Nevels, who both spoke with WRMJ after the event.
Among the numerous speakers was Mercer County High School student Maxwell Santiago, a 2020 grad, who will attend the University of Illinois in the fall. He told the crowd “protesting racism is not protesting America.” He spoke with WRMJ after the event.
There was a counter demonstration held before the Black Lives Matter event, organized by Tyler Ryckeghem of Aledo and Ralyn Schraceo of New Boston. They both spoke with WRMJ.