The Fort Wayne UNITED Clergy Committee and United Pastors of Fort Wayne addressed the community at the Allen County Courthouse Saturday afternoon, in response to Friday night’s clash between police and protesters.
The purpose of the gathering was to address unrest over race relations while showing their support for peaceful protest, ahead of Saturday’s demonstration planned for 2pm.
Pastor Steve Terry with New Life Church says the “evil” that took place in the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis led him to attend Friday night’s demonstration, where he saw the local unrest firsthand.
“I brought my son, and when a little tear gas hit him he said, ‘Dad, I’m angry.’ And he’s a peaceful young man,” Terry said.
He said black Americans, in Fort Wayne and across the country, are collectively angry over repeated displays of racism he says is being ignored.
“We have gone through the history of systemic racism, and somehow it feels like it’s falling on deaf ears. The beautiful thing that I see though is that we’ve got a chance; I think we have a small window of opportunity to make sure we do not ignore these voices.”
Before the gathering dispersed about a half hour before Saturday’s planned demonstration, attendees were led in a prayer.
“I pray for all of us that we will protest peacefully; that we will stand together; that we will be united in our efforts to seek change in our community.”
Despite these calls for calm, the shadow of Friday night surrounded the proceeding, with protesters urging supportive honks from motorists along Clinton Street as SWAT trucks sat in front of the courthouse.
On Saturday morning, Fort Wayne Mayor Tom Henry and local law enforcement officials briefed the public on Friday night’s conflict, which was attributed to “protestors who came from out of town looking to escalate the protests,” as reported by WBOI’s Ella Abbott.
