SALT LAKE CITY -- More than 100 people showed up at the federal building in downtown Salt Lake City Saturday for a rally against police brutality.
The goal of the event is to support the people of Baltimore, who have been rallying for weeks in response to the death of Freddie Gray--who died while in police custody.
The people at Saturday’s rally said they want to show the people of Baltimore that they are not alone when it comes to these types of issues. Those at the rally said police brutality is just as much a problem right here in Utah. And, just like in Baltimore, they are advocating for what they said is much-needed change.
From chanting, to speakers, to signs and messages, Saturday's rally is something we've seen before, both here in Utah and across the country. And, that's the problem according to these participants. They want to know how many people have to die and how many rallies have to take place before the issue of police brutality is taken seriously.
People said Baltimore may be on the other side of the country, and it may be much more diverse than here, but they said Utahns have the same struggles and the same passion.
"Oh the distance doesn't matter man, you know: Wrong is wrong, racism is racism, discrimination is discrimination--and we are here today to fight back against these police that think they have no laws for them and no rules for them,” said Desmond Smith, who participated in the rally. “We are here as one big family. It doesn't matter what color you are, we are all here for the exact same cause.”
Destinee Martell also attended the rally, and she spoke about her reasons for coming.
“Some people are feeling unheard, and in this country, the best thing about it is, all of us are supposed to be heard," she said. "And I think that's why all of us feel so personally affected by all of this."
