Black Lives Matter protest calls for change, unity in Brookside

Unity Southeast in Kansas City took its Sunday protest to a new location to reach more people.

Updated: 11:24 PM CDT Aug 2, 2020

Emily Holwick 

Protesters took to the streets of Brookside Sunday, demanding social justice. KMBC 9 spoke with a march leader, who says there has been some progress, but there’s still a long way to go.“People united will never be divided,” chanted protesters, as their powerful message echoed through Brookside. Unity Southeast in Kansas City brought their usual Sunday gathering to a new neighborhood. “Today we decided to take it to Brookside because we, as a group, have not been here yet to do a protest,” said one of the organizers Reverend Randy Fikki.

Fikki has been part of more than 40 protests all over the metro. He helped bring multiple groups together Sunday, for what they called the "Brookside Brigade.” “I think the easiest way to start bringing different sides together is to get our side to kind of align and have a simple message,” he said, “and come out and share that message with our community.”

The reverend is encouraged by the number and variety of people joining forces for a common goal. “We are looking and seeing more young people, more Hispanic people, Asian people, white people, Black people, Indigenous people, gay people, straight people,” he said. “What that tells me is that people understand that this is not a moment, it is a movement.”

He hopes even more people will be inspired to join their call for change. "If you're not aligned with the fact that people should live and people should be given a chance to prove who they are before we see the color of their skin, there's an issue there and you're part of the problem, not part of the solution.”

The group from Unity Southeast in Kansas City usually marches in the Swope Park area every Sunday. They invite everyone to join them.