The Paulding County Courthouse was the site of the first ever Inequality Protest in Paulding County history on Sunday June 14, 2020. Organizers, Andrea Schleuter and Jazmin Smith, brought together everyone in the county and surrounding area to the courthouse to share and be a part of the changes that are beginning to happen around our country. Signs were held by attendees with Black Lives Matter, We Can’t Stay Silent, We Will Not Move Forward In Race Relations If We Remain Comfortable, Eternal Lives Matter, Equality – Justice 4-All, Love NOT Hate Makes America Great, … and the list continues of people expressing their convictions on cardboard for all the County to see.
The attendees included Paulding County residents and their friends, Paulding’s mayor, Greg White, Judge Tiffany Beckman, Pastor Dwayne Richardson, and as well as media coverage from both County newspapers. The purpose of this protest, as stated by Schleuter, to speak about Justice and Unity for us all. Even though Schleuter herself received threats about hosting this protest — signs were stolen from her yard, magnets were taken off of her vehicle in her driveway — they proceeded with the events of the day. She stated in her opening remarks that this was to be a day of peace, unity, love and to give everyone a voice. A recording of Martin Luther King Jr.’s speech, “I Have A Dream”, played over the loud speaker before the mic was opened up for people to come forward and give themselves a voice for all to hear.
Next to come to the mic was Organizer, Jazmin Smith. She expressed her hopes that this Protest would spark the conquest of striving for further change for Black Lives and all for the better of our world. Smith also wanted to impress upon the crowd the importance of equality and the way to do that is to vote. A voter’s registration table was set up — this is a way to make change in our world.
A mother of bi-racial sons spoke about how it made her feel to see Mr. George Floyd on the ground with a knee pressed into his neck. She expounded her distress that all she could visualize was her sons’ faces in place of Mr. Floyd’s and she could not bear to think it. Things need to change — and it can start with you.
West Bend News owner, Bryce Steiner, spoke about the importance to protect the 1st amendment of the Constitution — freedom of speech. All citizens of the United States of America has the freedom to speak. There may be differing opinions — some opinions may be starkly different than your own — but that is your freedom. That is what’s great about the USA. All voices HAVE to be heard. Steiner went on to encourage unity by stating, “We can’t come together if we are fighting apart.” He also impressed upon the listeners that Love and Hate are opposites and they both cannot live in the same soul.
A local man, Nova Kaobaná Saigo, then came to the mic. He is a member of the Redrum Motorcycle Club & Society. He heard about this Protest from a friend and decided to come out and see what it was all about. He felt blessed to be a part of change in Paulding County.
Pastor Dwayne Richardson of House of Love Ministries, was the guest speaker for the Protest. He began with having the audience chant J-E-S-U-S and later respond with “Not On My Watch”. Pastor Dwayne emphasized that we are the Keepers of the Light, the Keepers of the Love. Our words have power — make sure your hearts stay positive, always walk in the Light. Your responsibility is to bring THE Light into the room. The only way to rectify this is through love. Richardson believes Paulding County is a praying county and stated that we are all on holy ground and to love at all costs — stand until you can’t stand no more. “There is power in prayer”, Pastor Dwayne stated, “we need powerful prayer of love for the victims’ families, for our police officers and for the United States of America.”
Paulding County made history on this day with its first ever Inequality Peaceful Protest. From the organizers: this day was a complete success, the beginning of change, the start to solving the problems in our society’s thinking. Paulding County — Be The Change You Want To See.
