The impact of small towns and BLM protests

Protests all across the country to demand an end to police brutality and racism with large crowds gathered in cities like New York, Chicago and many more, but the protests have gone beyond larger cities.

There have been countless protests in small towns across America, too.

Anne Helen Peterson, a culture writer for BuzzFeed, wrote, “People who’ve watched and participated in the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement since 2015 say that this time feels different. And the prevalence of these small protests is one of many reasons why.”

Peterson published an article titled “Why Small Protests in Small Towns Across America Matter". She mentioned that protests in large cities involving tear gas, helicopters, guard troops, tanks, rubber bullets, looting and destruction make it hard for small town peaceful protests to make the news.

Doug Swartz, a white police chief, wrote, “the Black community needs us,” and welcomed BLM protests to the small town of Canal Fulton, Ohio, which is made up of 5,500 mostly white residents.

Nevertheless, there hasn’t been a single Black Lives Matter Protest in the city.

After eight years as police chief, Swartz wrote a column for the community focusing on the movement.

"If we truly seek fulfillment in our lives, the White community also needs the Black community just as much, if not more ... Our continuously intersecting lives will always be contentious if we don't stop and take time to actively listen to one another and understand," wrote Swartz

Canal Fulton residents have tried to organize protests in Canal Fulton, but due to lack of manpower and COVID-19, it has never happened.