…counteract that with skating,” says Johnson. “This was a peaceful way to say let’s get back on the saddle and get something accomplished.”
As they skated up the street, people started yelling, “Roll, bounce, roll bounce.” About 25 local gang members walked alongside, cheering them on; a marching band gave them a beat. Drum circles, dancers, and other peaceful demonstrators joined in. People were asking skaters to stop for photos. At the intersection of Pennsylvania and North Avenues, a circle started to form around them. Black, white, young, old, it was a completely mixed bag. “It was beautiful,” says Johnson. “It was more reflective of the tone of the city.
“People are not paying attention to a gun over here if you’re cheering and dancing and having fun,” he adds. It was joyous.
But the next day, the Baltimore Post called it a “street party,” totally missing the entire point.
“Parties have no purpose at all,” Johnson says. “It was about the message of unity, it was, ‘Okay, this city is united in trying to find the silver lining of the whole situation.’
Roll on Baltimore skaters, roll on. We see you and we love you.
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What The Media Didn’t Show: Baltimore’s Rollerskating Peacekeepers was originally published on blackdoctor.org
