DAYTON — By way of music and dancing, hundreds of black men took to the streets of Dayton to shine a positive light on men of color.
>> Demand for Change: What you need to know, Sunday
Former Indianapolis Colts football player and Dayton native Brandon McKinney told News Center 7 its all part of shairing their message.
"I thought it was very important for a bunch of black men to get together and just letting them know that we are here, we are loud and we are going to speak our voice and we need to be heard," Brandon McKinney said.
The men marched for an hour, speaking out on racial tension and injustice across America and here in the Miami Valley.
"I really didn't want to be a part of this because I thought that it was going to be like cops surrounding us a pushing us," 8-year-old Brooklyn Brown said.
Darren Byrd said he felt it was important for the children in attendance to see more black men leading by example and setting the tone for the next generation.
"I think it sends out a great message to the younger people that's right behind us. Letting them know what a peaceful protest is and being out and part of the community, as well as giving back," he said.
The protest was peaceful, but not silent. That's the message 11-year-old Landon Wallace had today.
“I just wanted to get out to let people know that back lives matter and we need to change, you know, we can’t be ignored.”