Protests continue from the outrage of the murder of George Floyd, a black man who was suffocated slowly by a Minnesota police officer. On June 1, 2020, the Anaheim community came together at the Anaheim Town Center on the corner of Lincoln and Anaheim Blvd. Good Samaritans were present and willing to defend the businesses they own and shop at. Though it was a little rowdy at times with a few people there to start trouble, the majority gathered to defend the community and stood together united. Every person counts when it comes to these things.
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This area was more of a Mexican community, and stores boarded up with notices that said “minority-owned.” One couple was there to defend their CVS store, where they get their prescriptions filled, and weren’t about to be told they couldn’t get their medication the following day due to looters.
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The parking lot had undercover informants present, as well as random cars with blacked-out license plates, their drivers standing outside ready to seize an opportunity. One carload came in with a sign that said “Burn this bitch down” and were quickly kicked out of the parking lot by the family members of minority-owned T-Shirt Outlet and Town Center security.
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A T-Mobile store had an attempted break-in by thugs who were quickly chased out by members of the community armed with chains, taser guns, and the power of numbers. The armored assault vehicles patrolled the parking lot and helicopter cops reminded everyone that we were out past curfew and would be arrested regardless of our purpose and that it was an unlawful assembly. The community shouted back they were protecting too and had a right to be there.
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These demonstrations are direct reactions to police brutality and countless generations of slavery and struggle for human equality. Every person needs to feel safe and know that they can live in peace. We must all work together to peacefully demand accountability and rebuild trust in our institutions, neighbors, police, and government. To be silent is to be complicit.
Photos and article by Maggie St.Thomas
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