CLARKESVILLE — Protesters in Clarkesville remained peaceful during three separate gatherings Friday.
Protests have been organized in communities across the nation in the days following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, asking for societal change.
The first small gathering in Clarkesville was at 10 a.m. Friday and was very calm, said Assistant Police Chief Danny Clouatre.
The second gathering, at 3 p.m., started with one person and grew to a dozen by 4 p.m. Those participants waved signs and chanted to passing drivers.
A group of veterans stood guard at the Habersham County Killed in Action Memorial on the grounds, ensuring it was not desecrated or damaged.
Originally, the main protest was announced for 3 p.m., but moved to 6:30 p.m. to combine with another group planning to gather.
The 6:30 rally drew dozens and included music and even dance in the gazebo while others continued to wave signs and chant to passing vehicles.
Sign messages included “Hate has no home here”, “Racism is a pandemic too”, “We can do better” and “#saytheirnames”, with the last referring to black people who died due to excessive force.
Both Police Chief Brad Barrett and Habersham County Sheriff Joey Terrell were proactive in the days leading up to the gatherings, communicating to the community their full support of the right to peaceable assemblies and protests that call for changes in law and government.
Known as the Establishment Clause, the First Amendment provides that “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.”
