About 100 protesters turn out in Elk Grove for police use-of-force protest

Protests in the capital region over police use-of-force against African Americans continued Wednesday with at least 100 community members and activists marching in Elk Grove.

Protesters gathered at the Elk Grove City Hall at 10 a.m., wearing face masks and carrying signs bearing the names of African Americans who died after violent encounters with police, such as Breonna Taylor and George Floyd.

Sonia Lewis, a founder of Black Lives Matter Sacramento, addressed the crowd Tuesday morning as temperatures soared into the upper 90s, urging more accountability and thorough reform of police.

“I hear people say all the time ‘but there are good cops out there,’ and I want to at the core of me believe that is true, but if you work for a a corrupt, broken system you are are perpetuating corruptness and brokenness,” she said.

Two Elk Grove Police motorcycle officers remained nearby as protesters marched between City Hall and the Elk Grove Police Department headquarters on Laguna Palms Way, using crosswalks to cross the street and carrying ice chests filled with water bottles.

As noon approached, protesters gathered in front of City Hall and opened the microphone to community members, who encouraged protesters to exercise their voice at the ballot box and consider a run for office. Two children then led the string of speakers, with one saying, “I hope the world changes because I feel so sad.”