(Lander, WY) – Just after 11:00 am on Sunday, community members walked down Lander’s Main Street from Dairyland to Centennial Park holding signs in solidarity with Asian Americans.
Today’s rally was prompted by the spa shootings in and around Atlanta, Georgia on March 16th. Numerous national news outlets have reported the shootings claimed the lives of 8 people and injured another – the majority of those killed are reported as Asian Americans.
Marches and rallies have taken place across the country since the shootings. This local march was organized yesterday by Lander resident Dan Ratigan along with the Fremont County Democrats.
“The Atlanta shooting topped it off and made me have to do something,” Dan explained about organizing the rally. “I can’t be silent anymore. As a caucasian male in this country, I feel personally responsible to push back against evil, hate, anger, and violence.
“After all, we are all neighbors here. We are one community. We ought to be loving each other, not hating each other. When we see hate, we need to speak up.
“We need to let them know it will not be tolerated in Lander and not anywhere. It’s up to us, our voices matter. Silence isn’t an option anymore; we have to speak up.”
A few attendees continued to hold their signs calling for love, kindness, and tolerance for passersby at the corner of 2nd and Main at Centennial Park. Others walked back down Main Street continuing to share their message.
