By Joanne McQuarrie
Jasperites showed their support for the Black Lives Matter campaign with a peaceful demonstration on Tuesday.
There has been global outrage over the death of George Floyd, a Black man who died under the knee of a Minneapolis police officer on May 25, with protests held in cities across the world.
And the turnout at Jasper鈥檚 peaceful demonstration on June 2 organized by Jesse McGugan was way bigger than he expected.
McGugan, who grew up in Jasper, said he wanted to show support locally.
鈥淕rowing up in Jasper, there are so many people, so many ethnicities; [I wanted] to show we care,鈥� he said.
鈥淚 figured I might as well do it if nobody else was.鈥�
McGugan posted information about the protest on Facebook on Tuesday morning and contacted the Jasper RCMP detachment to see if they could escort the movement.
He said he expected about ten people to show up.
But about 40 protesters gathered at the courthouse and were supplied with masks to wear and signs to carry about the demonstration.
鈥淚 find it inspirational that people saw it and came down,鈥� said McGugan.
The group took their protest down Patricia Street, looped over to Connaught Drive and returned to where they started to stand at the courthouse.
Drivers honked their horns as they passed by the group and Sergeant Rick Bidaisee, commander of the Jasper detachment, drove behind them as they marched.
鈥淩acism is wrong,鈥� McGugan said. 鈥淚 hope this will spike people鈥檚 interest.鈥�
He said if it does, there may be more people at the next march.
Maia McGugan joined her brother in the demonstration, she said she took part 鈥渢o stand in solidarity with the United States of America鈥�.
鈥淲e are their neighbours, show we should have empathy for those who are facing police brutality due to their skin colour,鈥� said Maia McGugan.
鈥淓ven though we live in a small town, it is something to say we are there for people who are experiencing this.鈥�
