GRIDLEY, CA (MPG) – Gridley joined the nation-wide protests for “Black Lives Matter” and the fight for awareness of racism and police brutality.

At noon on Sunday, June 7^th, a group of about 80 protestors took to the Hwy 99 corridor in Gridley, marching with signs and chanting as they made their way through town and towards Rite Aid. It was there that they rejoined the rest of the group, uniting to peacefully yet passionately protest. 

For over two hours, the group took over the four corners of Gridley’s busiest intersection, Hwy 99 and E. Gridley Rd, expressing their outrage and calling for change. Chants of “Black Lives Matter”, “This is what democracy looks like”, “Say their names” and “No Justice, No Peace, No Racist Police” filled the air. Drivers of passing vehicles honked in solidarity and fists were seen raised out of car windows in support of the cause.

Organizers Krystal Santillan and Josie Storm, both raised in Gridley and currently attending Butte College, felt that it was important for the community of Gridley to participate in the movement. They declined to comment during the event saying “this isn’t about us” and kept the focus on the cause at hand. Later, the two shared some of their hopes and inspiration for the protest. Santillan said, “It just was important to us to show that our community may be small but we also support the rest of the country in the Black Lives Matter movement.” Storm said, “We are simply raising awareness to look at the bigger picture.” She continued, “The Black Lives Matter movement is really not radical but it is revolutionary. Challenging long-held beliefs is okay. Small towns like Gridley can be on the right side of history.”

The two young women organized the event rather quickly, using social media to spread the word. Storm says that the organization was stressful, mostly due to “threats from locals” such as “running over protestors” and “someone saying they’d “hit to kill”. Gridley-Biggs Police Department was present in the wings, protecting protestors rights, everyone’s safety and assuring that peace was maintained. Protestors were respectful of the community and traffic while voicing their messages. While not all may have agreed to some of the sentiments shared, overall community response to the protest was positive.

Fellow protestor and Gridley native, Jessica Gadow said “I’ve been protesting all week in Sacramento. When I heard it was happening here, I was absolutely shocked. This is a very conservative town and I’ve protested by myself for immigrants…It’s very hard to get mobilized here, so seeing this is absolutely beautiful.”