Since Sunday, May 31, civilians in Conway, AR have protested for eight days without breaking and have begun to see change in their community.

Protests against racial injustice began at 5 p.m. Sunday, in downtown to remember the lives of George Floyd and others who were killed by police officers across the United States. Hundreds gathered on the first day to march through the city and up to the courthouse by the guidance of police officers blocking off roads for protection. After reaching the courthouse, protest demonstrator Lakeslia Mosley gave a speech to those in attendance and also leading the crowd in prayer. 

Although the protest began peacefully, tensions began to rise as the evening grew older. Later in the evening, protesters blocked parts of Oak Street by lying in the street, where a car of teenagers attempted to drive through the protesters.

Strife also started to build during the evening as a few protesters began to cause conflict with police officers in the area, throwing water bottles and pushing themselves closer to officers. Police fired off rubber bullets and tear gas in response to a few protesters, and arrested six protesters who were not from the area. 

The following protest commenced Monday at 7 p.m. outside of Walgreens on Oak and Harkrider streets. Hundreds of protesters gathered with signs and began to march through the city, with the guidance of police officers blocking off roads, to the shopping center on Elsinger Boulevard. 

As protesters arrived, Mosley herded them in to a kneel. “Are y’all going to kneel with us?” Mosley asked several police officers in the parking lot, who were there to protect the stores. Police officers kneeled in response and received a standing ovation from protesters. The crowd began to chant, “Conway, Conway, Conway” in response to the officers’ unity with civilians.

As the officers were kneeling, several civilians walked toward the officers to greet them with hugs and some with tears in their eyes. 

The night ended as protesters marched back to Walgreens where police officers told them to leave at the newly set curfew time of 10 p.m. Mosley encouraged the crowd to follow the officers’ orders and obey the law. She insisted on keeping the protest peaceful.

After several attempts of warning, police officers with riot shields began to move closer toward several protesters who did not leave, urging them to abide by the new curfew. 

The third protest took place downtown on Tuesday at 7 p.m. as protesters continued to gather with signs and march through the city chanting various sayings such as “No justice, no peace,” and “black lives matter.”

Returning to Walgreens at about 10 p.m., protesters ended the night when officers came toward them in the street, offering hugs and handshakes to reconcile from the prior two days of tension. As the last car of protesters drove past officers to leave the scene, a woman yelled out of the car, thanking officers for their work and being at the protests. Officer Trevor Hardy then replied, “we want you to be heard, and we hear you.”

The following protest happened on Wednesday during the same time and at the same location, but ended with festivities as police gathered to dance with protesters in the street. Protesters carried a stereo through the streets, playing music that represented African American culture and advocated for human rights. As the time came for the crowd to leave, officers joined them while shaking hands and hugging the protesters. Officers then danced and sang with the crowd for several minutes while taking photos and staying to build relationships afterward.

The fifth day of protesting commenced at 7 p.m. downtown, where protesters gathered before marching to the courthouse once more. Upon arriving at the courthouse, the protesters gathered around the Robert E. Lee monument, which is erected in the courtyard. Mosley once again gave a speech to the crowd and the officers who were at the scene. She advocated for the removal of the monument, but also the placement of a new monument remembering Martin Luther King Jr. 

Alongside Mosley was Wayne Dickerson, another demonstrator who had been leading with Mosley for the past five days. Dickerson passionately encouraged officers to step out of their units more often in order to build better relationships with their community. He asked officers to tie in with the people in the neighborhoods they regularly patrol instead of staying in their vehicles. 

After speaking to the crowd, Mosley, Dickerson and other protesters welcomed officers to shake hands and hug one another, attempting to keep peace between civilians and officers. 

“We completely agree with everything they said,” one of the officers said. “I can’t disagree with any of that.” The officers reminisced over the speeches Mosley and Dickerson gave, continuously saying they agree and are not against the protesters. 

The sixth day of protesting began at 7 p.m. in downtown, where protesters gathered with signs and candles for a candlelight vigil. The crowd marched toward the Kris Allen Stage on Front Street, where they lit candles and sang happy birthday in remembrance of Breonna Taylor, a woman who was killed by police officers in Louisville, Ky., who would have turned 27 years of age that day. Along with them were two police officers, participated in lighting candles and praying.

Several people waving confederate flags from their trucks were forced out of the area by police and were ordered not to come back. Officers heavily patrolled the area, giving protesters way to protest freely and safely.

The protesters prayed several times throughout the evening and worshiped in the streets, carrying a speaker playing “Break Every Chain” by Tasha Cobbs Leonard.

The seventh day of gathering was not a protest but rather an event uniting civilians and police officers.

Leaders of the protests planned a community event with the Conway Police Department at Laurel Park at 5 p.m.

Members of the community joined with numerous Conway police officers, in and out of uniform, to have a cookout while also engaging in water balloon fights, football, slip-and-slide kickball, dancing, conversing and a speech on the history of racism in Arkansas. 

As well as members of the community, numerous police contributed different food items and beverages to the cookout. 

After conversing and eating, citizens who have been protesting nonstop for the past six days invited officers to kneel with them in solidarity.

Protesters and police officers knelt while hearing a story about the historic Elaine Massacre of 1919 in Arkansas.

The evening ended with smiles and signs of unity between citizens and police officers, discussing prospective plans to hold a similar event in the future.