Salisbury residents march in protest of recent violence across nation

SALISBURY, N.C. — Dozens of people gathered Saturday afternoon in Salisbury to protest recent deadly police-involved shootings across the country.

The event comes just weeks after black men were killed in Baton Rouge and Minneapolis and five officers were targeted and killed during a protest in Dallas.

Organizers of the Black Lives Matter march said the police stationed cars at the beginning and end of the parade route. They said they wanted the community to come together an heal following the recent violence.

It was just one of several events aimed at bringing healing and unity after the shootings in Louisiana, Minnesota and Dallas.

In Charlotte, a local church brought neighbors together for a block party Saturday. It’s an event that happens every year, but organizers said in this season it took on new meaning.

“It's so important that we reach out across things that divides us. Especially today when we see a lot of racial tension. I think God desires reconciliation,” Marianne Romanat of Light of Christ United Methodist, told Channel 9.

Both events were well attended and very peaceful. Many at the protest in Salisbury will attend another event next week to talk about ways to curb violence.

Another Black Lives Matter march will be held at 7 p.m. Saturday at the playground on Chestnut Street in Shelby and end at the Earl Scruggs Center in uptown.

Reporter Tina Terry spoke to an organizer to learn what she hopes to accomplish with the protest.

"We can all get along together. We don't have to kill each other. We don't have to be hostile in any kind of way,” Claudia Tugman said.

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