BEACHWOOD, Ohio — On Thursday night Samaria Rice, Tamir Rice’s mother, said the country is in a "state of emergency."
At a rally outside the Beachwood Community Center, she called on a large crowd to make change.
“The policies and laws of the police department,” Rice said. “The bills need to be created. You need to have those conversations with Congress, the Supreme Court and the governor at this point.”
This month, Tamir would have turned 18 years old.
The rally was organized by students that age who grew up with his memory and wished he could see what is happening.
“I think we grieve the losses of students like Tamir Rice and Trayvon Martin every day, but we continue to lead like civil rights activists because the fight for racial justice is not over yet,” said Elizabeth Metz, a rising senior who demanded accountability, equality and justice.
“This is the generation that has the power to change the world,” said Fran Gordon of Beachwood, who helped her. “They are intelligent, they use their resources well.”
Gordon said the students, who went on to march Thursday, did so in the peaceful spirit of the historic Selma to Montgomery marches in 1965.
“We need equality of all and peace and unity in every city and state all around America and all around the world,” said Gabe Stern, a recent high school graduate.
One speaker said change will not happen in a month or a year, before the rally ended in a long moment of silence when nearly everyone took a knee.