Marchers in Rockford will be part of a nationwide protest today. The rally known as the “4 Mile March” is the group’s effort to raise awareness against police brutality and racial discrimination.
According to march organizer Christopher Sims a reason for this location was the shooting death of unarmed 23-year-old Mark Anthony Barmore. Barmore was shot and killed by officers after he fled and hid in the basement of a daycare center. “We want to continue the attention that we need equality and justice in the United States,” Sims said.
Sims says a minimum of 75 participants is expected based on similar events. “I believe that more people are willing to rally around a march with a focus on Martin Luther King Jr., we can see maybe better numbers this time.”
The rally, which is scheduled to begin at 3pm at Rockford’s city hall, will not span 4 miles, but the symbolism can be found in the name. “The number of hours that Michael Brown laid deceased in Ferguson is where the number 4 comes from,” Sims said.
According to Sims there will be several components to the march, “There will be a variety of things. We’re going to have four speakers including Victory Bell.” He said, “I’ll be speaking about why the march is taking place. There will be speaking, there will be some marching, there will be some chanting, there will be signs, those things.”
Sims says, “The ultimate goal is definitely to continue to bring attention to racial profiling and police brutality in the United States.”
Rockford police were not aware of the event being held according Lt. Patrick Hoey. A city hall official says a permit is not needed for this event because it is protected as a first amendment right. Sims says this is a peaceful protest and anyone is welcome to come.
Sims said, “This is increasingly a multicultural movement; multigenerational.” He said, “That gives me hope in the United States that people of all ethnic backgrounds, races, are a part of this fight for racial justice.”