Hundreds of people are gathering in Stuart Park for a rally in support of the black community in Kelowna.
Organized by two black women Paige Harrison and Kermisha Pereira, the rally is meant to be peaceful and bring light to the ongoing protests in the U.S.
Many came out to supoort the Black Lives Matter rally in Kelowna.
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The protests started last week after an unarmed black man, George Floyd, died in Minnesota police custody. Some protests have turned into violent riots.
Harrison and Pereira emphasized Fridaysa国际传媒檚 event is a peaceful protest and all they want is to give people a chance to have an open conversation about people of coloursa国际传媒檚 experiences.
Harrison took to the mic at the beginning of the rally to thank residents for attending.
sa国际传媒淚 really appreciate all the support. I know there was a little bit of controversy (earlier), but Isa国际传媒檓 so glad that we stuck with the root of this peaceful protest, and that is to unite and not to divide,sa国际传媒� she said.
The sa国际传媒渃ontroversysa国际传媒� she was speaking about was the displeasure of some local black and Indigenous groups in Kelowna who said they do not support the event.
Hearth, an association of black and Indigenous women, posted they didnsa国际传媒檛 support the rally because sa国际传媒渋t was founded without the consultation, consent, or leadership of the larger black community in the Okanagan and also the First Nations who govern these territories.sa国际传媒�
Despite the backlash, Pereira and Harrison said they were very grateful for the support and the turnout.
sa国际传媒淚 couldnsa国际传媒檛 ask for a better turnout. We had a few people this morning trying to sabotage us, but this (turnout) is amazing. I honestly cannot find the words,sa国际传媒� Pereira said.
sa国际传媒淭his is more than us. This is more than a protest. This is changing peoplesa国际传媒檚 lives.sa国际传媒�
They said they cansa国际传媒檛 give specifics as to what triggered the backlash.
sa国际传媒淚t could be a couple of reasons, but we donsa国际传媒檛 want to insinuate anythingsa国际传媒� the only thing I can say, and speaking on behalf of Kermisha, is that we really wish that they were all here and supporting,sa国际传媒� Harrison said.
sa国际传媒淭hey wouldsa国际传媒檝e been a part of it just as much as anybody else wouldsa国际传媒檝e been.sa国际传媒�
Black Lives Matter rally underway in downtown Kelowna.
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While many of those who are gathered in Stuart Park are wearing masks, the recommended six-feet of social distancing, to prevent the spread of COVID-19, is not being adhered to by all due to the number of people in the area.
READ MORE: Community backlash over Black Lives Matter rally in Kelowna
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