Black Lives Matter Unified Peace Walk Planned For Saturday In Bristol

A march to mark the fight against racism, police brutality, and prejudice will take to the streets of Bristol Borough on Saturday.

A large group is expected to walk and make their voices heard from the Bristol Train Station to Beaver Street, to Buckley Street, to Bath Street, to Pond Street, and to the Mill Street Parking Lot before ending at the Harriet Tubman statue along the waterfront. At the Harriet Tubman statue, the marchers will kneel to mark the killing of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police.

Marchers are expected to gather at 10 a.m. and the event will kickoff at 11 a.m.

Morris Derry, the founder of nonprofit No More Pain and a Bristol Borough native, helped organize the march.

“You see everything that is going on in our country dealing with racism. And we just wanted to do something peaceful,” Derry explained.

The Black Lives Matter Unified Peace Walk was organized by No More Pain, Freedom Neighborhood One, and YANA – You Are Not Alone. The groups met with police as they planned the walk.

“It’s a perfect opportunity to show unity,” Derry said.

Growing up in Langhorne Borough and going to Neshaminy High School in Middletown Township, Derry, whose distant family was among first African American residents in Bristol Borough, experienced racism first hand, he said.

While planning the march, there has been great support from the community and religious leaders, Derry said.

The organizers have been in contact with police. Bristol Borough officials said they don’t expect any problems.

The organizers understand that some people may not like the message, but they plan for a event that promotes unity.

From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Mill Street Parking Lot will be closed.

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