Black Lives Matter peaceful protest, march set for June 11 in Kent

A Black Lives Matter peaceful protest and march is set for 3 p.m. Thursday, June 11 in downtown Kent.

Kent Mayor Dana Ralph and Police Chief Rafael Padilla will join residents for the rally, according to a city Facebook post.

“We invite you to join us,” reads the post. “We have been working with the event organizers to ensure this event is successful and well attended.”

The event will begin at 3 p.m. at the Maleng Regional Justice Center, 401 Fourth Ave. N., and then wind through several streets before ending at Kent City Hall, 220 Fourth Ave. S. The event will feature speakers from the community.

Keliesha Lovelace and Kendrick Glover helped organize the protest. Glover is co-founder of GEM (Glover Empower Mentoring) – a community based organization that supports youth and young adults in the area. Lovelace attended Kent-Meridian High School when Glover worked there as a counselor from 2012 to 2014.

Lovelace reached out to Glover to help her plan a peaceful march and rally in Kent to bring attention to what’s going on from the perspective of youth and young adults, according to a Facebook post by Glover.

Among the groups that have signed on to help with the protest march are:

• City of Kent Government

• Kent School District

• Kent Rotary Club

• Kent Chamber of Commerce

• Kent Black Action Commission

• Kent Police Department

• Living Well Kent

• John Volken Academy

• New Beginnings Christian Fellowship – Young Adult Ministry

• Hillside Church Kent

• Kent Downtown Partnership members

Streets to close

Starting at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, June 11 the city will be closing the following streets for the protest and march:

• Fourth Avenue S. from W. Willis Street to W. James Street

• W. James St. from Fourth Avenue to First Avenue

• First Ave from W. James St. to W. Smith St.

• W. Smith St. from First Avenue to Fourth Avenue