Historic Englewood Florida
Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/1505748
INSIDE Englewood scrapbook Page 19 Who was Elsie Quirk? Page 12 SUN The Daily Charlotte • DeSoto • Sarasota FRIDAY, JUNE 5, 2020 | YOURSUN.COM | AN EDITION OF THE SUN | $1.50 Forecast: Wet weather weekend PAGE 1B By LIZ HARDAWAY and DANIEL SUTPHIN STAFF WRITERS PUNTA GORDA — As thousands of people across the world protest in support of the Black Lives Matter movement and against racism and police brutality, a group in Charlotte County has decided to join in. March for Justice Charlotte is hosting a Black Lives Matter march tonight, from 6 to 8 p.m., starting at Laishley Park, 100 Nesbit St. in Punta Gorda. This will be a peaceful protest. The purpose of the protest is not only to fight for justice for victims of police brutality, but also amplify the voices of the local black community, accord- ing to one of the organizers, 18-year-old Carson McNamara. "This is only the beginning of my work to pursue justice and racial equality in our com- munity," said McNamara, who graduated from Port Charlotte High School this year. "We will be heard." Despite only 5% of Charlotte County's population identify- ing as black, they accounted for 13.1% of local law en- forcement arrests in 2019, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. Starting at Laishley Park, protesters will travel down Nesbit Street, turning right on East Retta Esplanade. The protest will then cross North Tamiami Trail North, travel through downtown Punta Gorda on West Retta Esplanade, cross over Cross Street, and end in the parking lot of Punta Gorda City Hall, according to Gorda Police Chief Pamela Davis, who is walking protesters Friday. As of Thursday morning, it is undetermined whether Charlotte County Sheri› Prummell will walk with protesters Friday, according to spokesperson Claudette Bennett. Roughly 10 high school seniors and college students are organizing the protest, some being members NAACP task force. They expect anywhere from 'We will be heard' Peaceful protest slated for Friday evening in Laishley Park 'Get your knee off our necks!' SCAT tests coronavirus L E