\u201cHow many white people worry about taking the bus or what they\u2019re wearing?\u201d Jones said.<\/p>\n
Harrison Wendt, an organizer of Southwest Movement 4 Black Lives, said public events like the vigil are important to keep a wider public focus on the issue of racial justice.<\/p>\n
He credits the Black Lives Matter movement and its public events with putting pressure on municipalities to reform police departments and increase funding for social workers, mental health counselors and other professionals who are better trained to deal with people in crisis situations.<\/p>\n
Wendt said Kim Potter, the Brooklyn Police Department officer who said she mistakenly fired her handgun rather than her Taser in the killing of Wright, was charged with manslaughter within 48 hours of Wright\u2019s death.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t think that would have happened before Black Lives Matter,\u201d he said. \u201cIt shows to me there is power in people gathering and bringing attention to racial injustice.\u201d<\/p>\n Melissa May of Durango agreed public events like Wednesday\u2019s vigil help educate the wider community and inspire people fighting racism.<\/p>\n May, a member of La Plata SURJ (SURJ stands for Showing Up for Racial Justice), said the group seeks to support and assist Southwest Movement 4 Black Lives to fight racism in the region.<\/p>\n While La Plata SURJ has not had public events since November, May said the group has been meeting online, and Zoom meetings have offered group members the opportunity to learn more about each other and to further educate themselves about ways to combat racial injustice.<\/p>\n Before the rally ended, Jones urged people to speak up within their families and in their workplaces when they see incidents of racism.<\/p>\n \u201cIt may be uncomfortable. It may be hard, but it\u2019s the only way we are going to change things,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n