UPDATE Noon - In St. Petersburg, a crowd gathered around 11 a.m. at the Uhuru House for a march to Tropicana Field.
The event, sponsored by the African People’s Socialist Party, was organized “to symbolize how the system of white power capitalism destroyed and buried the black community in the Gas Plant area and now Minneapolis police have murdered yet another Black man.”
Before the march, Eritha “Akile” Cainion, the party’s director of agitation and propaganda, and others called for a peaceful protest and told the protesters not to speak to the media. Only Cainion could distribute the message.
She led marchers with chants of “No justice, no peace.” Cars passing by honked horns in support.
“Jail the killer cop," Cainion yelled.
“Now,” the protesters responded as they headed up 16th Street.
UPDATE 11:10 a.m. Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Tony Dungy was among those who marched from Crossover Church to University Mall and back again on Saturday morning.
At the Tampa mall, site of the greatest area violence last week, Pastor Tommy Kyllonen of Crossover Church said the crowd was there for peace and prayer. He said he hoped that the day “won’t just be a hash tag” but lead to systemic change.
Gift baskets were distributed to employees of looted businesses.
“I thought it was a powerful message that we’ve got to come together, and we can only come together in Christ,” Dungy said.
Dungy said the march included parishioners from many places, including his own Grace Family Church. He said he was glad to be part of the solution.
Kevin Carr, 51, marched Saturday to help change perceptions of black men, who are too often suspected as potential criminals.
Carr, who owns a consulting firm, had his own moment about four months ago when he was stopped by police at the Whole Foods in Carrollwood. They thought he might be in a stolen car, he said.
Carr moved to Tampa six years ago after working as an NBA vice president for player development. Part of his job was to train players in how to react if they were stopped by police.
“What’s the most important thing," he would say to them. "Stay alive.”
UPDATE 10 a.m. A prayer walk that began at Crossover Church on Fowler Avenue in North Tampa drew a healthy crowd Saturday morning despite the steady downpour.
Hundreds walked east from the church to University Mall.
Júlio Martinez, 34, and Natalie Bota, 47, both of Wesley Chapel, came to show support for the protests. In Tampa Bay, demonstrations kicked off last Saturday and have been held every day since. Several are planned today in Tampa and St. Petersburg.
“It’s the first thing I’ve done beside sit behind a computer,” Martinez said.
Marching along Fowler was Tampa officer Richelle Fertig.
Fertig, 32, has been on the force for four years and was working during several protests this past week. On Saturday, she said the atmosphere was peaceful and not as charged.
She said she had gotten permission to participate. “I’m a believer,” she said.
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An early-morning protest, to “wake up Bayshore” in Tampa, was delayed by rain before a small crowd took up a march.
Emaline Taylor, 21, a stay-at-home mom, said she would be back next Saturday. “That’s OK," she said. "Gives me another week to advertise.”
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The weather will be a factor all day. Widespread rain and isolated thunderstorms are forecast across the region, according to the National Weather Service.
This story will be updated all day long.
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On a rainy morning, protesters gather to support Black Lives Matter - Tampa Bay Times
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