Ray Clark with his family at todays Martin Luther King, Jr. march in Seattle.
Ray Clark with his family at today's Martin Luther King, Jr. march in Seattle. ES

Ray Clark, 42
Seattle "born and raised"


Why are you out here today?

To support democracy. To celebrate Martin Luther King. And to show my children where we're from, and where we're going if we don't stand up—all together.

What do you think of the state of the country right now?

I'm afraid. I'm afraid we're going backward instead of forward. And that's why me and my children (and two of my nephews, and a friend of my sons') are here today.

Because I want them to know how beautiful this country can be when we all come together. On a day like today, it proves it.

As a people we're supposed to be there for each other. That's what Dr. King preached. You know, "Each one teach one" and "Bring one up with you." And if we continue down that path, we'll be great. But if we continue down the path of separation—where we're headed—then I fear for my children and I fear for their future.

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Sarah Benea, 17
Seattle


Why are you out here today?

I'm here to support. And, also, as part of my class assignment to learn something and write an essay about the experience. It's actually my first time here.

Well, we've only been going for two blocks but what have you learned so far?

That there's a lot of people in Seattle who actually support it. I thought not many people would show up. But, like, this whole line of people—it's amazing to see that they're actually here to support, and that they all share the Black Lives Matter focus.

What do you think of the state of the country right now?

Right now it's not in good shape, but I hope one day that there can be change.


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Rev. Dr. George E. Noble
Senior Pastor at Restoration Bible Church, Seattle


Why are you out here today?

We wanted to come and celebrate this 50th anniversary of Martin Luther King. I wanted to bring my granddaughter with me. This is the first time she's done this. I was just saying, "The last time I marched on this street they were using mace." Back in '68, '69. And so this is a time of memorial and remembrance. This is what we used to do.


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Nasra Kassim, 23
Seattle


Why are you out here today?

I think it's a great way to be with a community and go for something you believe in. You stand stronger when you're in a group. I think it's a good way to just be heard louder and clearer compared to just, you know, being in your mind and your thoughts at home—or anywhere.

The kind of stresses that we go through throughout the day are in our mind, I guess, but when you're with a group you see that there are a lot of people who believe in almost the same things, or close to them. And you just feel stronger knowing that there's someone else that's out there, just struggling and dealing with the things that come up.

Can you talk more about your sign?

I think all lives matter, actually. Not just black lives matter. But for some reason in America, we do have to let people know that black lives do matter... So it's good to stand up and let everybody know that we're just like everybody else. Our lives matter the same as your children, your family.


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Kenneth Richard, 53
Seattle


Why are you out here today?

For the cause. I work for the Postal Service so we were off today. And I felt I had to pay homage to Dr. King and what he stood for.

What do you think of the state of the country right now?

This too shall pass.


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Lisa Fitzhugh, 50
Seattle


Why are you out here today?

I'm here because I marched in the Women's March last year and it was an incredibly powerful event. But one of the things I noticed was that there weren't as many people of color in that march. I mean, there were a lot. But not as many as it would have felt good to have.

And so I just decided, this year it's really, for me, about deepening my relationships and understanding with people of color so that we continue to find inclusiveness. I've been doing that my whole career but today it felt really more important to come here, and then also go to the Women's March on Saturday. And that's just my own integrity around things. I've also been reading a lot of Ta-Nehisi Coates's work lately and it's just really put me in a different frame of mind about the possibility of making amends.

What do you think of the state of the country right now?

It's frightening. It's sort of shattering to all the basic assumptions I feel that I have about the world. And it also feels like the last death throes of a really old set of structures and rules. I feel like when something like that is at its end, it's at its ugliest.


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Sheree Staples, 55
Stockton, California


Why are you out here today?

I'm here because this is the first time I've ever actually been able to be in a march like this. My town is so small we don't have the capacity for something like this. So this is amazing to me.


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Dawnmarie Cooper, 67
Seattle


Why are you out here today?

I'm here today because we need to continue to remember what Martin Luther King stood for. That's why I'm here with my grandchildren—they're 4 and 6 years old. Dr. King stood for equality for all. Socially, we've lost some of that today.

And it's important that we teach the young children what our ancestors did in order for them to be here today.

What do you think of the state of the country right now?

We need prayer. I don't care what religion you have. We've caused this. We've allowed it to continue. And we have to come together as a country to stop it.