Demand for change: What you need to know today, Sunday

A number of protests and demonstrations will take place this weekend as residents of the Miami Valley take part in demanding change.

>>Related: Demand for change: Area Juneteenth events prayerful, reflective, fun

Protesters gathered in New Carlisle at Smith Park on Saturday for a protest that began around 1 p.m. The demonstration appeared to be peaceful as participants marched through the area.

No roads were closed during the demonstration in New Carlisle. The city implemented a 6 p.m. curfew shortly after noon in anticipation of Saturday’s protest. The curfew is scheduled to expire at 6 a.m. this morning.

A protest took place in downtown Yellow Springs near Mills Lawn Elementary School Saturday afternoon.

The Yellow Springs Village Council is the latest area government to declare racism a public health crisis, joining three other area governments in passing such a resolution.

The council in Yellow Springs voted 5-0 last week not only to back the declaration on racism, but also to commit to “meaningful action in response to the death, trauma and injury caused by institutional racism.”

The council, as part of its resolution, also is moving forward with its " justice system advisory committee, which will bring together community and village members to identify, develop and help implement policy initiatives that address systemic racism in a transparent and open forum."

Sunday afternoon in downtown Dayton a unity and prayer march was held.

“We want to share and spread the power of God throughout the city,” Ingram said. “It was 15 to 20 of us but again, with God’s power with us, that multiplies us.”

The event started with prayer and worship at Levitt Pavilion along South Main Street. Then, pastors and members of local churches marched to Courthouse Square and back, while spreading their message of faith, love and unity.

Last week, the Greene County Democratic Party, Dayton City Commission and Montgomery County Commission all have voted to declare racism a public health emergency.

These actions are among the things you should know today about the demand for change, in the aftermath of the Memorial Day death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police:

• Dayton Police Reform: City commissioners on Friday named five work groups whose mission it will be to reform the Dayton Police Department.
• Black Lives Matter Mural: Dozens of artists in Cincinnati have finished the Black Lives Matter mural that has been painted on Plum Street. City council approved the project this week. The work started Wednesday night. I was unveiled Friday. Each separate letter was designed by a different Cincinnati-area artist, our news partner, WCPO-TV reports.
• Protests End Budget Hearing: About 100 people took to the streets in Cincinnati on Thursday night after a city councilman ended a budget hearing when the crowd began to boo and rally against a citizen who spoke in favor of funding the police department, WCPO-TV reported. The crowd demanded to “occupy Elm Street” downtown and painted graffiti about the councilman who ended the meeting abruptly. The demonstration died down about 11:30 p.m. Thursday.
• Dayton-area Juneteenth: People in Dayton and in Englewood marked Juneteenth with prayer, reflection and fun.
• Breonna Taylor killing: One of the three officers involved in killing the Louisville woman is to be fired, the mayor said.
• By any means necessary: An 11-year-old Missouri boy is mowing lawns to contribute to Black Lives Matter

© 2020 Cox Media Group