Community Reaction to Protests in Homer

This is where 73 year old Bernard Monroe died.  His grandson says he was shot multiple times by a white officer but, he wasn't armed.  That's what drew hundreds of people like Elbert Allen to protest.

Allen said, "I felt proud to be a part of that."

Proud to fight for what he says isn't fair.

He said,  "Mr. Monroe's rights have been broken, I think his civil rights."

Allen says he's known Monroe his entire life.  He describes him as a peaceful man who's never been to jail and would never hurt anyone.  But, he says what happened to Monroe isn't anything new.

Allen said, "You know, things with black people that came up that were covered up. They've been prosecuted wrong and all that it's time for some one to step up."

Virginia Furlow is thinks the protest wasn't needed. 

She said, "I don't know why they're trying to bring all this tension to Homer because Homer's a fine place to live."

She says it's not about race.

Furlow said, "There is no negative feeling between the blacks and the whites here. I taught high school, I love my students and they loved me."

Not everyone sees things the same way, but what is agreed is police are investigating.