GALION — Galion resident Al Greer came to the Galion/Crestline Black Lives Matter Peaceful Protest in Galion on Saturday to do something he has been doing for 52 of his 74 years of life, to protest against racism and police brutality against people of color.

“I am tired. We should not still have to be doing this, enough is enough,” said Greer, who protested in Detroit in the days of Martin Luther King Jr.

The march was organized by Galion resident Ireland Lehart and Crestline resident Mary Beth Pierce.

“While there are many protests being held in larger cities, we think it is important to bring awareness to the issue of racism in our smaller communities where racism also exists,” said Pierce, minutes before a man in a white pickup truck drove through Public Square while flipping off the small group of protestors and shouting, “F— all you people.”

She said it is important to stop systemic racism and bring about actual equality instead of perceived equality.

Galion Police Department officers blocked the roadway, with assistance from the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office, for the protestors to march down Harding Way East.

Galion Police Chief Brian Saterfield said his officers were not marching with the protestors.

“We are just here to protect people’s right to protest and make sure everyone is safe,” Saterfield said.

Brandon Cox and several of his friends have been making their rounds to local protests, armed with rifles.

“Without the Second Amendment, you don’t have a first. People have a right to protest and be safe. I don’t see color, I see people,” said Cox, who also attended the March Against Racism in Bucyrus the previous Saturday.

Lehart said she created the protest to show solidarity in smaller towns where the message sometimes is completely missed.

“Human rights matter everywhere, not just Cleveland or Columbus,” Lehart said. “Just doing my part to stand up for what is right.”

Daryl See came to the protest from New Washington.

“I think this message is important to get out to the smaller communities as well as the big cities. Racism is not a big city problem, it’s everywhere,” See said.

He said calls to defund the police does not mean there will not be police.

“It’s not about getting rid of officers, it is about holding them accountable in the communities in which they are supposed to serve,” See said.

Monica Phillips of Mansfield said it is very important for change to happen.

“It’s important to me, to my kids, my nieces and nephews, that we have a voice because it affects all of our lives,” said Phillips of the children with her at the march, Eva Martinez, Rayden Valtazar, Karidia Sissoko, Emanuel Martinez and Sidiki Sissoko.