Katie de la Rosa

edelarosa@theadvertiser.com

"Anger."

The word was spoken repeatedly Saturday night in downtown Lafayette where more than 40 people participated in a police brutality protest. Surrounded by protesters holding signs calling for justice for Mike Brown and Eric Garner — two unarmed black men killed by white police officers who later were not indicted by grand juries in Ferguson, Missouri, and Staten Island, New York, respectively — John Merrifield said it's what compelled him to organize the rally.

"How can you look around at what's going on around the country and not be angry?" said Merrifield, a 23-year-old Lafayette native. "I'm angry."

Embedded in the crowd was the family of Victor White III, the 22-year-old whom Iberia Parish sheriff's deputies claim shot and killed himself while handcuffed in the back of a patrol vehicle on March 2. His father, Victor White Sr., said he supports any action "that helps keep (his) son alive."

"Any effort to fight for change is an effort we all need to make," White Sr. said.

The protesters gathered at the fountain of Parc Sans Souci before marching to the fountain beside the parking garage, where speeches were given thanking the public for the solidarity in this cause. The night ended with a march down Jefferson Street, holding the signs high while cutting through the ArtWalk.

Shannon Ozene, 39, said "it's time for our community to take a stand on" the recent incidents of police using excessive force. Echoing that sentiment, Chris Waters, 31, said that awareness it the first step to social change.

"We want to be part of the change when it happens," Waters said.

Speaking to the group, Albert Pickney thanked everyone for joining the effort.

"Inaction," Pickney said, "is just as bad as the violent acts we're protesting."