Sons of Thunder lead “Walk on Freedom” downtown

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WTVQ)-In the wake of the deaths of Alton Sterling in Baton Rouge and Philando Castile in Minneapolis, the Sons of Thunder are taking a stand in front of the Fayette District Courthouse.

Pastor Damon Davenport says to rallies the crowd in front of the courthouse, “It’s time that we take a stand and lift up our voices like a trumpet.”

It’s a grassroots movement that took off on social media.

Sons of Thunder member Aven Cannon says, “Well I passed out around 65 flyers in my own neighborhood alone. As well as posting on Facebook and raising awareness”

The walk was led by Pastor Damon Davenport who says his message is all lives matter. He believes it’s time for the community in Lexington and across the nation to come together and advocate for peace.

Davenport says, “At the end of the day we all bleed red blood. Innocent lives have been shed. Not only in the black communities, not only in the white communities…”

Walkers start off their march chanting “Black Lives Matter, Black Lives Matter.”

But for many a part of the walk on freedom they see it’s black lives that are on the line.

Protestor Barry Kratzenmaier says, “Bottom line is we’re all supposed to be the same and we’ve seen too much of picking out.”

The crowd chants “No justice, no peace. No racist police” as cops block traffic as they head to the mayor’s office.

Some mothers in the crowd say they’re protesting for a better future for their children.

Destinie Cameron says, “‘I’m here because I’m scared for him. I don’t want him to grow up in this and end up getting shot by the police and I have to bury my son before I get buried.”

Organizers say they hope the Walk on Freedom today will help fuel a much bigger march community activists are planning. It’s also starting from the courthouse called “We Move” on the 27th.