Teen organizers react to peaceful protest turnout, they say more protests to come

After a group of teens coordinated a peaceful protest in Palm Springs, News Channel 3’s Caitlin Thropay caught up with some of the girls to get their reactions.

“I wanted them to take away unity and equality. No matter where we are in the world or what’s happening we should always stay united,” Areli Galvez, one of the "Enough is Enough" protest organizers and a member of "Young Justice Advocates" told News Channel 3.

Six high school girls from the Coachella Valley organized the “Enough is Enough” protest in Palm Springs.

“I thought it went so well," Amor Toland, another organizer said. "It turned out to be everything I hoped it would be. It was peaceful. There was no violence and our community was standing together united,” she added.

Nearly a thousand people showed up to protest police brutality and racial injustice at Ruth Hardy park on Saturday.

“It honestly brought me so much joy and happiness knowing that so many people in the Coachella Valley support our cause and know what’s happening throughout the world and know it’s wrong,” Toland said.

They shared some of the reactions they got from people who showed up.

“Many people were trying to come up to us and especially afterward people were coming up to us crying saying this was so beautiful and they’re so happy we did this and especially that we’re young people doing this and that they feel so inspired and I was like wow,” Toland said.

And as for any plans for future protests…

“We’re definitely going to have another protest, more protests. I want to turn this unto something way bigger,” Toland said.

But until they plan their next protest, they look back on a day they’ll never forget.

“It’s so amazing going on social media and seeing people post pictures with us and post their signs and talk about how great the protest was," Galvez said. "It means a lot. It really makes us so proud that we made a change. Whether it was a little change or a big change we went out there and did what we believed was right,” she added.

For more information on Young Justice Advocates visit: https://www.instagram.com/youngjusticeadvocates/

For more information on the "Enough is Enough" protest read our previous article here: https://kesq.com/news/2020/06/06/nearly-a-thousand-show-up-for-enough-is-enough-protest-in-palm-springs/