The recent police-involved shootings have put the Black Lives Matter movement back in the spotlight and Bakersfield protestors stressed the importance of peace and equality for all on Saturday.

Black Lives Matter has garnered national attention recently in the wake of the shootings in Louisiana and Minnesota and in Dallas where five police officers were killed during a Black Lives Matter protest.

 “I definitely don’t support what the Johnson young man did in Dallas that is a horrible thing to do,” said Wesley Davis, President of the Wendale Davis Foundation.  

Despite the backlash the Black Lives Matter movement has received following Dallas, organizers say today’s protest down the streets of Bakersfield was peaceful and showed there is strength and beauty in diversity.

 “We need Latinos, we also need Asians, we also need white people, we need everyone to come together to show black lives do matter. We want equality for every single race,” said Maria Flores.