HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The situation in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and the arrest of a police officer in the death of George Floyd certainly has the attention of everyone. That includes the local chapter of the NAACP, who will speak at a peaceful protest that is being organized by a local resident on Sunday.
“It’s to draw attention to the fact that these injustices are continuing to happen across the country,” Darrell Pope of the local NAACP said. “This is drawing attention to the fact that there’s still a lot of work to be done. Even though we’ve been blessed in the local community not to have to experience things to that extent, we still need to be cognizant of the fact that there are things we need to be working to.”
Pope said that violence and the rioting that has taken place across the nation is regrettable in that it takes the focus away from the real issue.
“It’s regrettable that kind of thing happens,” Pope said. “It always seems to overshadow the real thing that’s going on.”
Pope says ending the mistrust between all races starts in the judicial system and especially in the home where change can start at an early age.
“Fundamentally that sort of thing starts at home,” Pope said. “We were taught that you respect everybody, you respect people and treat them with respect. And I think that has to be developed early in age.”
Pope also stressed that national leadership has to play a role in this as well.
“It has to be demonstrated by those people that are in decision-making positions,” Pope stressed. He says we see name-calling when candidates run for national offices. "We see all kinds of underhanded things being done by people who are supposed to be leaders . . . that trickles down to the rank and file.”
The peaceful protest begins at 2 p.m. Sunday in front of the Reno County Courthouse.