On Saturday there were two peaceful protests in Wichita that brought light to police brutality against people of color.

Protests have been occurring across the country after George Floyd, an African-American, was killed in Minnesota by a police officer, who knelt on his neck for nine minutes on May 25.

Sean Wentling, who will be a senior at DHS, took part in the protest because he feels it’s what people should do. 

“Not only am I fed up with inequality and the violence it results in, but I don’t want everyone to go silent again,” Wentling said.

Protests of this sort are often portrayed as violent or hostile, but Wentling said that the atmosphere “encouraged and excited everyone.”

“Overall, I loved it,” he said. “It truly was actively participating in change.”

The protests consisted of marches – one to the Wichita Police Department and one to the courthouse in Wichita – and people making speeches.

“When one of the speakers started to sing, I saw a young boy with a sign saying, ‘Am I Next?’ It made me start tearing up,” Wentling said.

The purpose of these protests was to protest police brutality against African-Americans, which Wentling believes to be important.

“If you don’t fight, the oppressors will walk all over you; they’ll keep their boots on your throat. We can’t live for that,” he said. “If this doesn’t make you upset, then you aren’t human.”