BAKERSFIELD, Calif — When Cherly and Micah Nilsson reached out to their family and friends to plan a solidarity walk, they didn't expect that over 200 people from the community would show up.
"So we just decided okay let's do this. Let's bring our community together and let our black brother and sisters know that we are listening and that we are ready to take an initiative and be by their side and stand up to make a change," said Cheryl Nilsson, a community member.
Cheryl said with the recent death of George Floyd and demonstrations across the nation over the issue of racial injustice hit close to home because of her family.
"I have three biracial nephews and just the idea of the lives that they have to live, which is something I can't even understand even remotely on a daily basis is just heartbreaking to me. And honestly, the fact that I lived through the Rodney King riots 23 years ago or something and then to be faced with this going on in our world again it was just too much. And being silent just didn't seem like the right thing to do." said Nilsson.
The walk began at the Beale Memorial Library in Downtown Bakersfield and went to Truxton Avenue, H Street, 18th and Q streets. After the walk, people from the community spoke about their thoughts and experiences with racial injustices which Cheryl says is vital.
"Just to hear from their mouths what they experience here in Bakersfield. It's not what's happening in L.A. or anywhere else. They spoke about their experience here and how grateful they were to be a part of this today," said Nilsson.
