CITRUS HEIGHTS, CA (MPG) - Two days of peaceful marches and rallies took place in the city of Citrus Heights to protest police brutality following the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota on May 25. Unlike many others, these events were planned to help bring attention to the need for all to work together for reform.

The protests took place of June 13 and June 14, 2020 with marches on Greenback Lane from Sunrise Mall to Citrus Heights City Hall where rallies were held.  

A flyer advertising the event on social media caught the attention of the CHPD prior to those dates. San Juan High School student organizers, Jordon Modkins, 16, and Asia Morris, 17, were contacted and arrangements made to have officers available for traffic control, and the protection of both marchers and the community.    

Asking Modkins where he got the idea for this event in Citrus Heights, he explained ‘protest’ to him means, “peacefully fighting for what you believe in”. “I had the urge to go downtown (Sacramento) but was not allowed to. I thought, what if I brought the protest out here in this type of community where there hasn’t been anything like this, especially when injustices happen. There should be more bringing police and the community together for better communication.”  His goal and passion is to bring understanding for where both sides are coming from.

Prior to the start of Saturday’s event, Modkins began with a prayer for God “to bring safety and peace, and justice to this march”. Speaking on a bullhorn to the 100+ participants he reiterated that this was to be a peaceful march. “We’re here to make a change not to bring ourselves down to the level of those against us.

Putting into words the feelings of those who have not felt the sting of discrimination, Kelly Christianson of Fair Oaks held a sign which read, “I understand that I will never understand, but I stand with you.”

At one point, marchers split up, walking on both sides of the street to the exuberant honking and thumbs up of drivers in support of the cause.

At City Hall, participants and speakers knelt and took 8 minutes – the time it took for Floyd to die under the knee of Derek Chauvin - to read the names of other victims of police brutality.

Organizers made sure there was ample water throughout the day and snacks following the one hour, 4.4-miles hike in over 70-degree temperatures.

Police presence on both days was understated but effective. Following Friday’s protest, Citrus Heights Police Chief Ron Lawrence said in a statement on social media (which also applied to Saturday’s march), “Although we expected the march to be peaceful, we always want to ensure the safety of community members exercising their freedom of free speech and right to peacefully assemble.”

“We were requested by the group to assist as they crossed the street of Sunrise and Greenback. Although the march stayed mostly on the sidewalk, during the march, we maintained traffic safety in the lane adjacent to the side walk to avoid any vehicle and pedestrian conflicts if the protesters stepped off the sidewalk into the roadway.

“The police department is committed to traffic safety and the safety of our community and we appreciate the cooperation and communication with the organizers of the march. The organizers helped ensure that those involved remained peaceful. We want to thank our community for their continued support of their local police department.”

With Modkins, Morris and other youth and their mentors involved in making this weekend a reality, their continued persistence will bring the safety, peace and justice this generation is looking for closer to becoming a reality.