“All lives don’t matter until Black Lives Matter:” Protesters marched through Ponte Vedra Beach

PONTE VEDRA BEACH — A crowd of about 200 people marched through Ponte Vedra Beach Thursday evening.

• The march went from the Ponte Vedra Beach branch library to the Inn and Club and back.
• It was about a 3.6-mile march.
• This is likely the longest march our area has seen so far.

“[We’re] marching through a couple of the privileged white neighborhoods here in Ponte Vedra to give us an opportunity to really make our voice heard where it hasn’t been,” David Sollars said.

For Erika Bogan, the cause is personal.

“I have a daughter who’s biracial, and more than half of my family are African-American, and it’s time for change,” Bogan said. “I feel like in 2020 we shouldn’t be out here having to do this, but if we have to, we’re going to.”

Just earlier, the group paused and took a knee for eight minutes and 46 seconds, the amount of time a since-arrested officer had George Floyd pinned to the ground.

It was a new area Thursday night, but the message stayed the same.

“All lives don’t matter until black lives matter,” Sollars said.

Organizers said they dealt with about 20 of what they called “aggravators” during the route.

St. Johns County deputies confirmed they had a criminal mischief call for a car at the library where the protest started.

Protesters said one of their cars was keyed.

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