From toddlers to adults, members of the community gathered at the Hays County Historic Courthouse in support of the Black Lives Matter movement as well as LGBTQ+ Lives Matter.
The peaceful protest, organized by Erika Klodnicki, was advertised through a Facebook event with over 200 responses. The rally began at 6 p.m. with words from Klodnicki and other members of the community who wished to speak.
Some attendees proceeded to march around the courthouse in an attempt to stay safe from the busy streets; others marched down Hopkins Street and later returned to the courthouse to finish the protest. The event concluded with everyone in attendance kneeling with their fists in the air during a moment of silence.
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Erika Klodnicki, the organizer of the event, opens the peaceful protest, Friday, June 5, 2020, at the Hays County Historic Courthouse. The protest was held to advocate for black lives and end police brutality.
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Protesters stand with signs along Hopkins Street, Friday, June 5, 2020, near the Hays County Historic Courthouse at the protest organized to advocate for black lives.
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Madison Perlinger holds a sign in the air, Friday, June 5, 2020, outside the Hays County Historic Courthouse at the protest organized to advocate for black lives. Perlinger said she is glad to see smaller towns like San Marcos coming together to advocate for the movement.
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Angela Villescaz speaks in front of the crowd, Friday, June 5, 2020, at the Hays County Historic Courthouse at the protest organized to advocate for black lives. Villescaz talked about fighting for Justin Howell, a Texas State student who was critically injured by Austin Police in a protest May 31.
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Dominique Woods kneels at the front of the Hays County Historic Courthouse, Friday, June 5, 2020, at a protest organized to advocate for black lives.
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Protesters kneel in the grass outside of the Hays County Historic Courthouse, Friday, June 5, 2020, at a protest organized to advocate for black lives.
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Protesters kneel outside of the Hays County Historic Courthouse, Friday, June 5, 2020, at an organized protest advocating for black lives. The protest ended with a moment of silence as attendees knelt in the grass with their fists in the air.
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A person in a passing vehicle holds their fist out in support of the group protesting, Friday, June 5, 2020, during an organized protest advocating for black lives.
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Protesters stand at the corner of Hopkins Street and North LBJ Drive, Friday, June 5, 2020, at an organized protest advocating for black lives.
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Protesters yell at a passing car on North LBJ Drive, Friday, June 5, 2020, at an organized protest advocating for black lives. A passenger in the car yelled “all lives matter” toward the group who refuted the statement with “black lives matter.”
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A group of protesters cross Hopkins Street after marching from the Hays County Historic Courthouse, Friday, June 5, 2020, at an organized protest advocating for black lives.
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Dominique Woods makes the shape of a heart with his hands, Friday, June 5, 2020, at an organized protest advocating for black lives. Woods is an alum of Texas State and said that his mother was wrongly imprisoned. He returned home to San Marcos to fight for what he believes.
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A protester holds a sign in the air, Friday, June 5, 2020, near the Hays County Historic Courthouse at an organized protest advocating for black lives.
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Protesters stand at the corner of Hopkins Street and North LBJ Drive, Friday, June 5, 2020, at an organized protest advocating for black lives.
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(left to right) Kamrym Nowell and Ja’niyah Daniels hold signs in protest, Friday, June 5, 2020, at the Hays County Courthouse at an organized protest advocating for black lives.
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Protesters hold signs in the air at the corner of Hopkins Street and North LBJ Drive, Friday, June 5, 2020, at an organized protest advocating for black lives.
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Protesters march around the Hays County Historic Courthouse chanting, Friday, June 5, 2020, at an organized protest advocating for black lives.
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Protesters march around the Hays County Historic Courthouse chanting, Friday, June 5, 2020, at an organized protest advocating for black lives.
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Protesters march around the Hays County Historic Courthouse chanting, Friday, June 5, 2020, at an organized protest advocating for black lives.
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An artificial black rose sits in the grass, Friday, June 5, 2020, at the Hays County Historic Courthouse at an organized protest advocating for black lives. Some protesters were carrying a single black rose or bouquet of roses.
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Protesters march around the Hays County Historic Courthouse chanting, Friday, June 5, 2020, at an organized protest advocating for black lives. Protesters were chanting for George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and black lives.
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Protesters march around the Hays County Historic Courthouse chanting, Friday, June 5, 2020, at an organized protest advocating for black lives.
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