A march and vigil in support of Black Lives Matter is planned to take place on Saturday in Rockland.
Road closures will be effect onto Union Street for the event. Chris Landy, one of the organizers, said they want to open the conversation toward positive change.
“We have a few speakers planned, we have a couple of high school students, a few town residents, and a couple of religious leaders from the area,” said Landy. “We’re really looking only to show support and solidarity, and set a standard as a community. We want to come together as a town and really show our support for the Black Americans who have been facing all these injustices.”
Organizers of the rally are working with the Police Department to make sure this is a safe event. Masks are required for participants. Landy is requesting that people wear black for the event.
“I actually have been in contact with the Police Chief myself,” said Landy. “We have full support from them. They’re going to be closing down the streets for us so that we can take safe passage to the Town Hall and back to the plaza if people need to get back to their cars. They’ve been really great, with us the whole ride. They’ve only shown us support.”
A rally will form up at 1:30 p.m. at Rockland Plaza off Market Street. At 2, participants will march up Union Street to Town Hall where the vigil will take place.
The Union and Market intersection will open to traffic after the area is clear.
Union Street will be closed from East and West Water Street to Church Street until the rally ends. Landy says the rally ends promptly at 4 p.m.
“We do not want anyone to fear that anything that they own in the town, any businesses are going to be at risk of vandalism or destruction. We’re coming together to show our support,” said Landy. “We understand that people are fearful and we recognize that. We’re 100 percent peaceful. We won’t be tolerating any sort of violence, any sort of vandalism, or anything like that.”
More details are on Facebook: Rockland in Solidarity with Black Lives Matter.