Two Des Moines metro civil rights demonstrations Wednesday night that follow efforts by protesters earlier in the day to speak with lawmakers and Gov. Kim Reynolds about their legislative priorities ended peacefully.
The first, a rally hosted by the Ankeny Community Network, began at 6 p.m. in the city’s Wagner Park, located at 410 W. 1st St. The event lasted about two hours and included speeches from several community leaders.
Organizer Ahmed Agyeman said he did not expect the first event hosted by the Ankeny Community Network to be in response to a national crisis and widespread outcry against racism.
“We didn’t think today was going to be like this,” Agyeman said. “We were thinking about food and festival and music.”
The second event — the “I am a man: peaceful protest & march” — began at 6:45 p.m. at 111 E. Court Ave. in Des Moines and ended at 9 p.m. The event was organized by Des Moines-area residents Cameron Woods and Cory Williams.
Protesters were silent as they marched in straight lines from the Polk County Treasurer’s Office to the police station and Capitol, a significant difference from several previous protests where participants chanted along the entire route. Many demonstrators also came dressed professionally, in suits or dresses.
“When they see people in formation, that’s power,” Woods said of the police. “When they line up in front of their station, they’re in formation. And that’s their power.”
Des Moines Black Lives Matter supporters on Tuesday released a list of demands for the state government that includes decriminalizing marijuana and expunging the records of those with marijuana-related offenses; passing an executive order to immediately reinstate the voting rights of all Iowans with felony convictions who have served their sentences; ending juvenile detention; and passing a Democratic proposal to ban chokeholds and increase police officer accountability.
Dozens of civil rights advocates on Wednesday took their demands to the Capitol. Some chanted “No justice, no peace,” and “Where is Kim?” as they sought to speak with Gov. Kim Reynolds.
Reynolds said during a news conference Wednesday that she is committed to sitting down and talking about these issues.
Wednesday was the 13th day of civil rights demonstrations in Des Moines. Vandalism to businesses and conflicts between some protesters and police occurred following the conclusion of some of the earlier events. Des Moines-area events this week have been peaceful.
The events are linked with ongoing racial tensions across the nation that are associated with the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis police custody on May 25.
Here’s what Register journalists reported Wednesday evening:
‘Unite Rally’ in Ankeny:
8:05: The final speaker of the night, Deshara Bohanna, called on the crowd to continue supporting people of color in Ankeny. Bohanna advocated for creating a human rights commission for the city, supporting black-owned businesses and creating more spaces for the black community through the Ankeny Community Network.
Event attendees began to pack up and head home as the sun started to set over Wagner Park.
7:55 p.m.: Pastor Dan Berry asked the crowd to acknowledge that they stand on Sac and Meskwaki land, then asked them to reflect on deaths in America over the last “horrific few months.”
“I’m here tonight to tell my white brothers and sisters — not knowing what to say, not knowing what to do is not going to cut it anymore,” Berry said. He told white Americans to educate themselves on racism and to stop telling black and brown people how to act or how to protest.
After Berry’s speech, organizers gathered the children of the event on stage to show how society should be.
7:30 p.m.: When Kyreef Prezzy held a “Black Lives Matter” sign in an Ankeny protest, he says police were called to the scene. So the next time Prezzy went out to protest, Ankeny police chief Darius Potts joined him.
Potts told Wednesday’s crowd he loves being an African American, and he loves being a cop. In the weeks since George Floyd died, Potts said, he and other Ankeny officers have spoken extensively about the incident.
“Everyone at the Ankeny Police Department thinks it was horrible — it was murder,” he said. “We can also all agree we have some work to do.”
The next speaker, Ken Morris Jr., the equity director at Ankeny Schools, urged the crowd to take a knee, reflect on the moment and be motivated to act.
6:45 p.m.: Speeches continue at Wagner Park. Makita Mayberry spoke about experiencing microaggressions and racism in the Ankeny School District and her work to create a black student union in response.
Soon after, Ankeny High School principal Peter Apple spoke about the importance of unlearning racism, both in school and over the course of one’s life.
6:25 p.m.: Ahmed Agyeman said he and six other city residents created the Ankeny Community Network, which organized the event. Agyeman said he did not expect the group’s first event, the “Unite Rally,” would be in response to a national crisis and widespread outcry against racism.
“We didn’t think today was going to be like this,” Agyeman said. “We were thinking about food and festival and music.”
There was some music, though: just before Agyeman spoke, a group took the stage to sing, “Lift Every Voice and Sing.”
6:05 p.m.: Over 300 demonstrators gathered in Wagner Park in Ankeny Wednesday evening. Emcee Isaiah Bidi began the event, which he said is meant to show frustration at the deaths of black Americans and display unity.
“We’re going to do this in a way that shows everyone, even here in suburban Iowa, we care,” Bidi said.
Des Moines march:
9 p.m.: The crowd dispersed.
8:35 p.m.: Demonstrators at the Capitol steps chant. The sayings differ from some previous marches: Instead of “No justice, no peace,” the marchers yell “Saving lives, salvaging dreams” and “I am my brother’s keeper, together we will rise!”
Organizer Cameron Woods spoke to the crowd about respecting one another and the power of being in a group. He asked protesters to raise their hands if they ever felt they had been racially profiled by the city of Des Moines. One individual asked if they could raise both hands.
Woods then listed seven demands for law enforcement both in Des Moines and across the country:
- Ban racial profiling.
- Ban chokeholds.
- Ban pretextual stops.
- Create a citizen review board.
- Greater transparency on police misconduct and punishment for offenses.
- Ban fired officers from being rehired by other police departments.
- Keep a registry of officers accused of racial profiling or excessive force.
Several of the demands aligned with the list released by Des Moines Black Lives Matter supporters on Tuesday. Unlike the Black Lives Matter group, Woods did not make specific legislative demands to restore felon voting rights after a sentence is served, ban juvenile detention or decriminalize marijuana.
At about 8:30 p.m., protesters started walking back toward the Polk County administrative building, where the march began. Organizers told the group to say “good evening” to the police as they marched past the building for the second time.
The group disbanded at 9 p.m.
7:48 p.m.: Marchers arrived at the police station at about 7:30 p.m., lining up along East Court Avenue. Speakers addressed the crowd, giving statistics on racial profiling and incarceration.
A few police officers watched from their cars. Metal barricades sat between the squad cars and the group of protesters, blocking the stretch of East 1st Street, by the police station.
After just over 10 minutes at the police station, the demonstrators began to march toward the Capitol.
7:20 p.m.: Over 100 marchers arrange themselves in rows of four and set off across the river and toward the police station.
Organizer Cameron Woods said the organized marching will better showcase the power of the people.
“When they see people in formation, that’s power,” Woods said of the police. “When they line up in front of their station, they’re in formation. And that’s their power.”
6:50 p.m.: A few dozen demonstrators gathered at the Polk County administrative building, dressed in business attire and prepared to set off on a silent march.
