2,000 march through Starkville to protest racial injustice

Jason Roberson holds a sign reading "I am Ahmaud Arbery" during the Starkville Stand Up Justice March on Saturday in downtown Starkville. Roberson is a student at Morehouse College and spoke during the rally. He reminded the audience to never forget the names of black people who have been victims of police brutality. "I am tired. I sat in my bed crying after watching the video of Ahmaud Arbery, who was running in his own neighborhood and gunned down. His... Own... Neighborhood," Roberson said. "Will I be the next victim of systemic racism because of the color of my skin?" Photo by: Claire Hassler/Dispatch Staff

Jarod Braggs holds up a fist to show his support during the Starkville Stand Up Justice March on Saturday at the Mississippi State Amphitheater. The march was organized in response to George Floyd’s death and coincides with protests taking place across the nation as people speak out against systemic racism, white supremacy and police brutality. Photo by: Claire Hassler/Dispatch Staff

Protesters raise their fists during the Starkville Stand Up Justice March on Saturday in downtown Starkville. The march began at Unity Park and protesters walked to the Mississippi State Amphitheater, where there was a rally. Photo by: Claire Hassler/Dispatch Staff

Protesters walk east down University Drive during the Starkville Stand Up Justice March on Saturday in downtown Starkville. The march began at 10 a.m. at Unity Park but people began gathering at least an hour before then. Photo by: Claire Hassler/Dispatch Staff

Jarod Braggs looks straight ahead as he listens to a speaker during the Starkville Stand Up Justice March on Saturday at the Mississippi State Amphitheater. The rally included musical performances and speakers such as Mayor Lynn Spruill, MSU President Mark Keenum, NAACP Oktibbeha County Chapter President Yulanda Haddix and several MSU students. Photo by: Claire Hassler/Dispatch Staff

Kena Tate raises her fist during the Starkville Stand Up Justice March on Saturday in downtown Starkville. The rally also had tables for people to register to vote and learn about the 2020 census. Photo by: Claire Hassler/Dispatch Staff

Signs, water bottles and a cellphone are scattered on the grass as people listen to speakers during the Starkville Stand Up Justice March on Saturday at the Mississippi State Amphitheater. Organizers of the march set up shade tents with fans and volunteers passed out water bottles in an effort to keep everyone cool. Photo by: Claire Hassler/Dispatch Staff

Lisa Wilson holds her sign and shouts during the Starkville Stand Up Justice March. After the George Floyd Last Words Demonstration, in which people lay on the ground and listened to the final words that George Floyd said before he was killed, Wilson stood up and did a call and response using the words written on her sign, "I will breathe, you will breathe, we will breathe!" Photo by: Claire Hassler/Dispatch Staff

Protesters hear the words "No justice!" and shout "No peace!" in response during the Starkville Stand Up Justice March. About 2,000 people participated in the march and rally on Saturday morning. Photo by: Claire Hassler/Dispatch Staff

Kaley Smith lies on the ground with her hands behind her back during the Starkville Stand Up Justice March at the Mississippi State Amphitheater. As part of the George Floyd Last Words Demonstration, everyone was instructed to lie on the ground while MSU Student Morgan Gray read the final words that George Floyd said as a white police officer pressed his knee into Floyd's neck. Photo by: Claire Hassler/Dispatch Staff

Ciera Presley closes her eyes in prayer at the end of the Starkville Stand Up Justice March on Saturday at the Mississippi State Amphitheater. The march was organized by the nonprofit Starkville Stand Up, which serves to be “a unified voice for Starkville citizens that stand up against systemic racism and the unjust killing of black people by police officers,” according to a post on their Facebook page. Photo by: Claire Hassler/Dispatch Staff

A sign honoring Aiyana Stanley-Jones sits on a bush during the Starkville Stand Up Justice March on Saturday, June 6, 2020 at the Mississippi State Amphitheater. Aiyana was killed during a police raid in Detroit in 2010. She was seven years old. Photo by: Claire Hassler/Dispatch Staff