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QC Solidarity Marchers Demand Change

About 250 people gathered Friday evening to march from the Rock Island Police Department to the Davenport Police Department. The Quad Cities March for Solidarity was the first of its kind in the Quad Cities area to support to the Black Lives Matter movement. The march coincided with demonstrations across the country in the wake of two videos this week showing the shooting deaths of black men by police officers.

The march took place the day after a peaceful protest in Dallas ended violently when a sniper shot and killed five police officers. As the Quad Cities marchers gathered in Rock Island, church leaders demanded they stay peaceful.

"If anybody has come to set it off, you can return to your car now," said Reverend Daniel Teague. "We need unity, we need solidarity, we need peace. But we need change."

Marchers chanted, "no justice, no peace;" "black lives matter;" "we are not afraid;" and "we demand change." 

Reverend Dennis Butler carried a sign that said "NO MORE — WEED OUT BAD COPS."

"Not every cop is bad, but we have a few that probably don't know how to interact with young black men," Butler said. "Maybe that's something that we can bridge."

The marched ended peacefully in Davenport with several leaders giving speeches and leading the group in prayer. They encouraged people to reach out to local legislators to demand action.

"What do we want? Justice!" #QCSolidarityMarch @WVIKfm pic.twitter.com/hDcx3OZFGz — Lacy Scarmana (@LacyScarmana) July 8, 2016

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