We Can Start Here, Walking

Dozens of Rio Vistans gathered Tuesday evening June 2 at Trilogy for a peaceful walk in solidarity with the many Americans currently seeking justice for George Floyd and protesting racial inequality in our country.

Organized by Trilogy resident Rich Lynn, the walk was meant to encourage neighbors to get to know each other better and work together in the quest for racial justice.

“It’s a walk for the death of racism,” Lynn said in addressing the masked and socially distanced crowd before the walk. Members of the Rio Vista Police Department, who had been invited to the event by Lynn, expressed their appreciation for the peaceful gathering during this time of national unrest.

“Martin Luther King once said a riot is the language of the unheard,” Lynn said, referring to the violence that has erupted in more than 100 cities across the country since the death of Floyd, the African American who died in police custody in Minneapolis on Memorial Day.  “In our sweet little community, we have an opportunity to do something different, to come together.”

Unfortunately, the quiet walk was briefly disrupted when a man who appeared to join the group late began verbally harassing a woman carrying a sign in support of racial unity. The man apparently tried to  incite the woman’s husband to fight. The husband instead reported the incident to police.

Lynn is undeterred. He plans to lead a walk against racism with any neighbors who choose to join him,  at 7:25 a.m. and 7:25 p.m. every day.

“I want to end racism,” he said. “We can start here, walking.”