Two Parkville residents took their personal experiences to the streets of their hometown to fight for racial justice and unity in the Northland.
Stephanie and Channing Doss, an interracial couple, were the original owners of Popculture Gourmet Popcorn in the Parkville Commons Shopping Center. As an interracial couple living in a predominantly white community they said they have been greatly impacted by their own experiences fighting against racism and those of their neighbors who are black and brown.
During her remarks to the crowd of about 600 people in attendance, Stephanie Doss said a racist comment on her community Facebook group spurred her into action in early June.
“I was enraged, and hurt, and worried for my family and embarrassed of my community,” she said in a social media post after the march. “I wanted to retreat. Move to a new neighborhood. A new city. A new state. Anywhere but here. I’m sure some people would be happy to see us go, but that won’t work. Because black people cannot choose to retreat from their blackness. Brown children cannot move to another town and no longer have brown skin. There is no escaping your race. You can’t take it off like a uniform at the end of a long hard day. To not be black for a little while is not a choice black people get to make.”
The couple organized the Parkville March for Unity, which was held Sunday, June 14 to give like minded people who live in the same community and share in their desire to fight for social justice and equality a venue to come together and discover one another.
“We want to make sure that the people of color in our community know that they have authentic allies,” said And that we stand with them and join the fight against systemic racism and oppression,” the couple said in a release.
The peaceful protest kicked off on the front lawn of Parkville City Hall, with many leaders of the city present, including Parkville aldermen, Park University president Dr. Greg Gunderson as well as chief of police Kevin Chrisman and Platte County sheriff Mark Owen and the Police Pops officers from the sheriff’s office, who distributed ice pops to fight the heat.
Speakers included Stephanie and Channing Doss, Chrisman, U.S. House of Representatives 6th District Democratic candidate Dr. Gena Ross, Martin Rucker of Northland Progress and more.
After hearing from speakers, attendees marched down Highway 9 — led by the Parkville Police Department —and then down Main Street, through downtown Parkville and concluded at the Parkville Farmer’s Market, where Northland Progress supplied voter registration forms and information.
Marchers were encouraged to wear masks and keep their distance throughout the event.
“This march is a pro-coming-together march so we may recognize that we all have differences and are in this together,” Channing Doss said.
The Parkville Presbyterian Church and businesses such as Parkville Coffee and Om Prana Yoga supported the marchers with rest stops, water stations and more.
The march made local news in the Kansas City metro area, and has generated additional online interest in the formation of a Northland-centered group to continue the effort.
For more photos of the event, visit plattecountycitizen.com.