Photo by Janelle Patterson Lt. Megan Moretz, of the Salvation Army in Marietta, prays over protestors gathered at the fountain at the Ohio River levee Monday.

“Mondays are the days I have off from work so I’ll be here every Monday for now, spreading love and learning the laws so that we can effect greater change,” said organizer Dennis “Mahni” Mwagbe, 24, of Marietta. “We don’t want the conversations that started on (June 7) in the park here to stop. Even just today as I walked down here I had an older white guy stop and ask me how he could help, what he needed to learn. It finally feels like we’re being heard and we can’t stop.”

Mwagbe gathered 27 protesters, at the parking lot next to the Putnam Bridge on Front Street at first, all standing on the corner at the bridge entrance holding up signs and chanting the names of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Rayshard Brooks, the most recent focus of the Black Lives Matter discussion after he was shot in the back in Atlanta over the weekend while being pursued by law enforcement.

But the group waited to walk to the fountain at the Ohio River levee, after seeing people walk toward the fountain openly carrying sidearms and on communication devices which from afar looked like walkie-talkies.

“When your whole social media feed is video after picture after video of people who look just like you dying, seeing more cops and people with guns doesn’t make you feel safe right now,” said Emily Smith, 26, of Vienna. “I brought my momma to this today, but I don’t want her to get hurt.”

Photo by Janelle Patterson Protestors gather at the Putnam Bridge in Marietta on Monday to peacefully protest police brutality and racial injustice.

Mgwabe and Smith did not know if those there were law enforcement or members of the Ohio three-percent militia who showed up in support on June 7 for the initial peaceful protest in East Muskingum Park.

But when Marietta resident Skylar Steward, leader of the militia locally, was contacted while the gathering was at the bridge, he said none of his peers were present but he would be in attendance shortly after filling out a police report for a break-in into his truck.

“I feel so much better now that he’s coming, never thought I’d say that I’d feel safer with militia here,” laughed Smith.

Steward walked with the crowd from the bridge, down Front Street on the eastern side of the street to the fountain at the Ohio River levee, and then guided the group to remove their hats as Lt. Megan Moretz asked to pray with the group for forgiveness for the times she has overlooked racism.

“They are raising their voices and crying out…we ask that you hear them and God, I pray for your protection over this group of young people that you may keep them safe, that they may be heard,” said Moretz, as the group knelt. “And so God we pray right now, I repent of any times that I have had prejudice or hate in my heart and God I pray that we can be reconciled to each other.”

Photo by Janelle Patterson Dennis "Mahni" Mwagbe, right, kneels as he leads chants for racial justice at the Putnam Bridge in Marietta Monday.

She prayed for love to surround the group, she added thanks for the strength of those present and asked for mercy and openness in the hearts of those who drove, cycled or walked by the group.

And when she finished, she was embraced and thanked by the gathering.

“Yes, there are only 27 bodies here, but there’s been so much love still,” said Alexis Mattox, 29, of Belpre, as she stood chanting with the group, ignoring the man in a red pickup truck who shouted “KKK” out his window, and another man who shouted, “go home to your mommas.”

The group instead cheered with each honk and wave in support, they sang songs including ‘Where is the Love’ by the Black Eyed Peas, and they attracted the attention and energy of two little blonde children, who joined in dancing as their mother, Davis Johnson, contemplated how she could also aid in young black and indigenous people of color sharing their stories and voices.

The group plans to return to Front Street next week, and for the foreseeable future.

Janelle Patterson may be reached at jpatterson@mariettatimes.com.

If you go:

• Mondays, beginning at noon, supporters of racial equality and justice are invited to gather at the Putnam Bridge parking lot at East Muskingum Park.

•The organized demonstration will then move from the bridge to the fountain at the Ohio River levee, by passing down the sidewalks of Front Street.

• According to Marietta Law Director Paul Bertram, such demonstrations are legal without a permit so long as passage is maintained on the city sidewalks and vehicular traffic is not impeded.

Sources: Dennis “Mahni” Mwagbe and Paul Bertram.