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'We're Tired Of Our Kids Being Hashtags' | Mother Organizes Peaceful Protest With Cockeysville Community

COCKEYSVILLE, Md. (WJZ) — Protests continue in the wake of George Floyd's death, who died nearly three weeks ago in the custody of Minneapolis police. An officer was seen kneeling on his neck before he became unconscious.

Since then, people have been protesting for police reform and justice for the Black community.

The message coming out of Sunday's protest in Cockeysville- equality and an end to the violence.

At the age of 13, Jaydon Gaines knows why he's protesting- for equality, for himself and his family.

"It's hard to accept the fact that a lot of people judge you on how you look," Gaines said.

"My kids, their kids, kids don't have to come to these events it shouldn't be necessary," said his mother Julie.

She said she can't help but worry for the day her son might be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

"It's heartbreaking to worry that he won't get the same treatment that something happened to him and if he's in a group of people that don't look like him he's automatically the target," she said.

Tonya Jackson organized a peaceful protest Sunday at County Home Park near the library, where people held signs and took a knee.

Jackson said her husband is Black and they have two children together, and the protest is for them and for anyone else jumping on the bandwagon late- she says it's never too late to make a change.

"I have two biracial children, I have an African American husband and I want to see them come home at night," Jackson said.

Jackson said she is tired of the violence.

"It could be my husband, it could be my son, you know they walk out the door every day and you pray that they come back. They're tired of it," Jackson said. "I don't want to see my son be a hashtag, I don't want my husband to be a hashtag, you know the next mom doesn't want to see their child be a hashtag, we're tired of our kids being hashtags. It needs to stop."

The Minneapolis Police Department identified the officer as Derek Chauvin, he now faces a second-degree murder charge.

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