Chaos ensued on Saturday after groups of white nationalists, neo-Nazis and Ku Klux Klan members protested the removal of a statue depicting Confederate Leader Robert E. Lee in Charlottesville, Virginia. The rally turned deadly when a driver plowed his car into a group of anti-fascist protestors, killing one woman and injuring several others.
In response to the events in Virginia, Black Lives Matter Syracuse organized a rally on Sunday. About 500 Syracuse community members attended the rally in Clinton Square to speak out against the violence in Charlottesville.
Juanita Perez Williams, a 2017 Syracuse mayoral candidate, joined the Black Lives Matter rally on Sunday.
Erika Sternard | Contributing Photographer
The Black Lives Matter rally met outside of the Jerry Rescue statue in Clinton Square in downtown Syracuse.
Erika Sternard | Contributing Photographer
Multiple rallies have been held at the Jerry Rescue statue prior to Sunday.
Erika Sternard | Contributing Photographer
The fight was "to remember those who lost their lives, and to fight white supremacy, racism and ethnocentrism," said a spokesperson from Black Lives Matter Syracuse.
Erika Sternard | Contributing Photographer
Nikeeta Slade holds a sign that says "White Silence = Violence" backwards so the people behind her could see it.
Jessica Sheldon | Staff Photographer
Andre Habet, 27, chants, "What do we want? Justice. When do we want it? Now."
Jessica Sheldon | Staff Photographer
The crowd gathered around the statue in Clinton Square and listened to various people speak at the rally.
Jessica Sheldon | Staff Photographer
About 500 people gathered in downtown Syracuse at 5 p.m. in response to Saturday's violent white supremacist riots in Charlottesville, Virginia.
Jessica Sheldon | Staff Photographer
The rally was organized by Black Lives Matter Syracuse.
Jessica Sheldon | Staff Photographer
Attendants at a Black Lives Matter rally held in Syracuse downtown the day following a white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, that ended with a car plowing through a group of counterprotesters and killing Heather Heyer.
Lenny Martinez | Contributing Photographer
Between speakers, there was a moment of silence held for Heyer and the events in Charlottesville.
Lenny Martinez | Contributing Photographer
Throughout the rally, people were fanning themselves due to humidity.
Lenny Martinez | Contributing Photographer
In the crowd, there was a handful of children, accompanied by adults, rallying as well.
Lenny Martinez | Contributing Photographer
During a moment of silence, people held up a banner that listed the names of multiple victims of police violence.
Lenny Martinez | Contributing Photographer
Individuals shared their thoughts at the podium by the Jerry Rescue statue. Banners that said "WE CAN'T BREATHE" were held in front of many speakers.
Lenny Martinez | Contributing Photographer
Various signs included many different sayings, people and symbols.
Lenny Martinez | Contributing Photographer
The rally went from about 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Lenny Martinez | Contributing Photographer
One of the speakers of the Black Lives Matter rally had traveled from Charlottesville within the last day.
Lenny Martinez | Contributing Photographer
Members of Black Lives Matter Syracuse held up several banners, one listing the names of all the people who have died as a result of police violence and another carrying the group's name and motto, during Sunday's rally.
Lenny Martinez | Contributing Photographer
Among the attendees of Sunday's Black Lives Matter rally in Clinton Square was mayoral candidate Juanita Perez Williams, who held a sign that read "We are Heather."
Lenny Martinez | Contributing Photographer
Attendants of Sunday's Black Lives Matter rally in Syracuse gathered in the afternoon sun to express their grief and disappointment at the recent death of Heather Heyer during a counter protest in Charlottesville, Virginia, Saturday.
Lenny Martinez | Contributing PhotographerPublished on August 13, 2017 at 9:37 pm
