A moment as powerful as the initial peaceful protest following the wrongful death of George Floyd in May of 2020 warranted strong follow-through proving that steps would be taken to combat systemic racism and its continued harm to people of color. After the Bowling Green community made itself heard, BRAVE founder Anthony King took measures to ensure that the local government was listening.

Shakir Blackett first approached BRAVE with the goal of convincing investors to put $13,000 behind his project, a “micro mobility company with the ultimate goal of providing an affordable scooter rental network to students and locals.” By the time he was finished, he had $50,000.

Ten days and a budget of zero dollars faced BRAVE organizers following the successful peaceful protest in May. Waiting at the end of that tunnel was a new tradition for Bowling Green—a celebration of Black history and culture, as well as remembrance of the official end of slavery in the United States.

George Floyd’s wrongful death in May of 2020 ignited a series of protests country-wide. Activists, privileged individuals who were newly awakened to the atrocities systemic racism enables in the spaces it inhabits, and Black and POC individuals who have had no choice but to face the exhausting trials and injustices presented to them on a day to day basis all participated in peaceful protests.