A Highland Park community held a “Banners for Justice” event in response to the death of George Floyd.

The participants say that the effort is a way to protest racism and police brutality without the risk of attending protest rallies during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It’s a big statement to put a banner…in front of your house and say, ‘Black Lives Matter,’” says organizer Natalie James.

With social distancing still on the minds of many, three groups of 25 were allowed in the parking lots to show off their displays.

“The mayor was involved,” she says. “We even had the police department help provide us with cones to block off the event so it really felt like a good, wholesome space.”

Highland Park High School seniors Rebecca Ochan and Edan Blank served as youth organizers.

“We had like little toddlers playing with the paintbrushes and we had people who were older than me in college painting those banners,” says Blank.

The students say that it was great to see the community come together.

“Whenever I walk on the streets of Highland Park or I walk my dog, I see these banners everywhere,” says Ochan. “It makes me feel like there’s hope, you know, there’s hope for change.”

More than 300 people attended the Sunday event.

“We didn’t have enough room or enough banners for everybody, to the point where we were like, ‘We have to do this again,’” says James.

James says they would like to organize another event soon so that more banners will be ready by July 4. She says that she hopes this initiative will inspire one million Banners For Justice across America.