Thousands to March in Detroit for Racial, Economic Justice

Thousands are expected to march Saturday demanding racial justice in Detroit in a rally organized by more than 100 local churches.

Called the March for Justice, the walk is part of a broader effort to highlight what organizers say is the growing marginalization of African Americans in Detroit. While the city’s residential population is 84% African-American, the community is being ignored in recent development efforts, said members of the planned march.

“With the gentrification of Detroit . . . African Americans do feel shut out,” said Tracey Sanders, an organizer who’s a member of of New St. Mark Church in Detroit. “We just want to have a seat at the table.”

The march and later actions planned–such as voter registration–are to help “eliminate racially-motivated injustice and promote economic parity,” Sanders said. About 3,000 to 5,000 are expected to take part in the march, said organizers.

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The Rev. Louis Forsythe II, pastor of Pleasant Grove Baptist Church in Detroit, plans to attend the march.

“We want to be able to speak truth to power,” Forsythe said.

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