Protesters filled the Open Space in Traverse City on Saturday, June 6.
More than one-thousand people gathered to show support for the Black Lives Matter Movement.
Brent Tempo has lived in Traverse City for over thirty-five years. He said in this time, he has watched the area grow in diversity.
"Thirty-seven years ago, there were five Black people here and we all knew each other," Tempo said. "You always felt like you had to put your head down or look at the ground because you just knew that you didn’t fit in here."
He said the community is coming together, but it’s time for city officials to reflect the people.
"We all know that in law or municipalities that’s where the changes have to happen," Tempo said. "Maybe they’re realizing now that from all of this pressure, they’re going to have to change but as long as taxpayers are paying their taxes and as long we have jobs here in the city, nobody really cared about any of this going on. Now they have to pay attention."
The Traverse City protest was a peaceful gathering, people shared their stories and held signs with messages like "I can’t breathe” and ”I will never understand, but I stand with you”.
Tempo said in other parts of the country, it took a more-violent approach for voices to be heard.
"It took that violence, I think, it took the eruptions to really shine a spotlight on the gravity of the situation," Tempo said. "The people are upset. Like Reverend Sharpton was saying (at) George Floyd’s memorial, it’s time to tell them 'Get your knee off our neck'."
Tempo said white Americans and other minority groups recognize the message and are now showing up to support it.
"I think Traverse City will become a place of not just the Great White North, but a great place for everybody to come enjoy," Tempo said. "Not because of the nature or the landscape but because of diversity and the love of the people."
Tempo said people want change but it's the younger generation who is carrying the momentum forward.
