Some graduates of a small high school in western Illinois will gather Thursday - not for a reunion but to hold a Black Lives Matter event in their hometown. They'll hold a rally and march in the village of Sherrard in Mercer County near the Quad Cities.
One of the organizers, Miranda Mendoza from the class of 2008, says the Sherrard High School alumni wanted to bring the messages from George Floyd-inspired events in major cities down to the grass roots level. There's already diversity in the big cities and many people of color.
"And I think in smaller, rural communities, especially in the midwest, that's not really the case. And there can be a lot of confusion through different media channels about what is actually happening and what people of color in this country are trying to achieve."
During their planning, she says they asked for support from the mayor, police department, and sheriff's office.
"We wanted to make it very clear that we were not asking permission to protest because it's our right to do so. But we did want to have the support of them if we could get it because we want to make this a very community friendly positive event."
Sherrard currently has an official population of 640, and Mendoza says there were fewer than ten students of color in her high school.
The rally, including a short march through the village, begins at 5 pm.
