WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Hundreds of protesters are gathered in Winston-Salem. It's part of a Black Lives Matter Winston-Salem 4 Peace protest in support for Jacob Blake.
Winston-Salem protesters held up signs demanding justice in Blake's shooting.
"We're also demanding a level of policy to be instituted not only here but everywhere that protects everyone and has everyone's best interest at hand," said organizer Quamekia Shavers.
Members of Wake Forest University men's basketball team joined in the protest.
"We’re humans too. They want us to just play basketball and not really speak out about how we feel about human rights," said Isaiah Mucius a junior on the team. "I think it’s the greatest time for us to speak out and show and use our platform to talk to people and show that we have rights as well."
Blake was shot Sunday night in Wisconsin as he leaned into his SUV, with his three children seated inside. The shooting left him paralyzed and was caught on cellphone sparking several nights of protests.
Mucius said its time for change, he said he's tired of being scared for his life.
"I want to be able to drive and not be scared to walk by a police officer," Mucius said. "I don't want to have a talk with my kids about how to talk to police. I want everyone to continue to fight and get better I want stuff to stop."
On Friday, the Wisconsin Department of Justice said two Kenosha police officers fired tasers in a bid to stop Blake before he was shot seven times in the back with a gun.
Shavers said it's time for folks to vote, educate themselves and have communities step up and become catalyst for change.
"When you see officers continue to get away with things that aren’t warranted you have to ask yourself what policies are in place that are protecting individuals to react to certain races any way they want to," Shavers said.
Shavers said it's going to take the restructuring of policies to really make a lasting change.
Coverage from Protest Wednesday night in Winston-Salem
