About 80 people gathered in Market Square in Portsmouth Friday night to show solidarity with African American victims of police brutality.
A few people of color stood among a largely white crowd. Some stood quietly, others chanted "We Shall Overcome."
PaMela Ramsay held a sign reading “Black Lives Matter.” She’s a third generation Portsmouth Native, and African American. "It's always been very white here," she said, "and it's extremely encouraging, extremely emotional, and I'm just so happy to see all these people who would support people of color."
University of New Hampshire Freshman Gabby Greaves, of Brooklyn, was also at the event. She said she likes UNH and has found a supportive community there. However, she said, "it is very hard not to be home, especially all that's been going on with the decision in Ferguson."
Greaves said she watched the grand jury decision come down from her dorm room, and "it was just very difficult not being able to be around a group of people who I could really feel I could share my story with."
The protest was organized by Occupy New Hampshire Seacoast, and sponsored by the Seacoast NAACP and Dover Friends Society.