Black Lives Matter Protest in Berkley
The Black Lives Matter protest in Berkley, organized by B.A.M.N. (By Any Means Necessary), brought together a powerful crowd in a suburban setting to stand against racial injustice and systemic oppression. Led by organizer Marshele Parker, the event was part of a broader effort to bring activism beyond city centers and into suburban communities like Troy, Birmingham, and Berkley—areas where prejudice often goes unchallenged.

Held at the local high school, the protest drew an estimated 600 participants, with a steady stream of cars filling the lot and even a helicopter overhead, reflecting the event’s growing visibility. B.A.M.N. volunteers distributed donated masks, water, and cookies shaped with messages like “Black Lives Matter” and “We Matter,” reinforcing the movement’s spirit of care and solidarity.

As protesters gathered in a socially distanced semi-circle around a table of supplies, Parker and other organizers used bullhorns from picnic benches to address the crowd. “We are all a family, and we all stand in solidarity,” Parker said, emphasizing the group’s intersectional approach and commitment to building inclusive, community-based activism. The protest was both a call to action and a space of unity, reaffirming that the fight for justice belongs everywhere.