Key Westers stand together at Bahama Village gathering

BY TERRY SCHMIDA

KONK LIFE STAFF WRITER

“We are stronger together.”

That was the message community leaders joined together to communicate at a rally on the evening of June 1, at Nelson English Park, in Bahama Village.

Hundreds of people of every color and creed, and from all walks of life, gathered in solidarity–even as the nation looked back on a sad week.

George Floyd March, Key West, Photos by Bill Klipp
All photos © Bill Klipp, not for Commercial Use of any type, for personal use only.
Submitted to Konk Life Zenfolio acct, Guy deBoer ()

A week that began with the killing of a black man in Minneapolis, and quickly spiraled into protest, frustration, and – in many cases – clashes with police.

But as it has before, the community applauded speakers that included District VI City Commissioner Clayton Lopez, Key West Mayor Teri Johnston, and County Mayor Heather Carruthers, along with Sheriff Rick Ramsey and Key West Police Chief Sean Brandenburg.

Lopez, whose district includes the traditionally black neighborhood of Bahama Village, spoke for many in the crowd when he decried America’s racial shortcomings and the painfully slow pace of progress on this front.

Still, the commissioner, who has helped defuse racial animus on the island since at least 1972, called for calm, reflection and positive action. But he also aclled for discipline among the impatient.

Gesturing around him, Lopez said, “That’s what we built,” before urging against handing opponents of reform the weapons of vandalism or violence.

“It makes the enemy stronger,” Lopez declared.

Other speakers echoed the views of Lopez, who at one point joked that he had been roped in to serve as the evening’s emcee.

Chief Brandenburg, who earlier today sent out an open letter to the community reaffirming his department’s commitment to fair treatment of citizens and transparency, also spoke, stressing community spirit.

“No one hates a bad cop more than a good cop,” Chief Brandenburg said to applause.

Some of the loudest applause from the gathering–which eventually morphed into a non-violent march through surrounding streets–was reserved for County Mayor Carruthers’s mention of the shock she felt watching the viral video of Minneapolis resident, George Floyd, having the life slowly choked out of him.

“Every one of us could not believe that video,” she said, before noting Monroe County’s habit of being tolerant to a fault sometimes.

“We are tolerant of intolerance,” Carruthers said, as a chant of “George Floyd” arose though the crowd. “But we have got to change this . . . Let’s not let this violence . . . come to the Keys.”

Another politician, District II City Commissioner Sam Kaufman called for more social progress in Key West, a familiar theme for the progressive-minded lawyer.

“Let’s get some affordable housing happening,” he said to cheers.

One rally attendee, Karen Vaught of Key West, later said she was glad she attended the event, along with her friends.

I just had to go!,” Vaught said. “I feel it was a call to arms for social equality and human rights for everyone, regardless of race or gender.”

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