Staples High School senior Niah Michel, 18, of Westport, took a stand in helping organize the protest on the Ruth Steinkraus Bridge on the Post Road on Friday, June 5, 2020, in Westport, Conn.
Christopher Young of Westport shares his thoughts at the protest on the Ruth Steinkraus Bridge on the Post Road on Friday, June 5, 2020, in Westport, Conn.
Simeon Okoro of Weston, left, and his younger brother Zane, 13, of Weston, take part at the rally at the Town Hall green on Sunday, June 7, 2020, in Weston, Conn.
Colleen Crawford of Weston and her daughter Avery, 8, left, and Peyton, 10, express their thoughts at the rally at the Town Hall green on Sunday, June 7, 2020, in Weston, Conn.
Taking part are, from left, Lucia Gelobter, 13, of New York City, her brother Emerson, 15, and Liv Dejounge, 15, of Fairfield at the protest on the Ruth Steinkraus Bridge on the Post Road on Friday, June 5, 2020, in Westport, Conn.
Leonra LoFrisco, 17, of Westport, raises her hand to be counted at the protest on the Ruth Steinkraus Bridge on the Post Road on Friday, June 5, 2020, in Westport, Conn.
Ashley Caggiano of Norwalk and her daughter Bella, 5, share their thoughts at the protest on the Ruth Steinkraus Bridge on the Post Road on Friday, June 5, 2020, in Westport, Conn.
Friends Camilla Roisland, left, and Beth Dalen, both of Westport, at the protest on the Ruth Steinkraus Bridge on the Post Road on Friday, June 5, 2020, in Westport, Conn.
Jordan Blunschi, 15, of Weston, a sophomore at Weston High School, organized the rally at the Town Hall green on Sunday, June 7, 2020, in Weston, Conn.
Gray McGuinness, 12, of Westport, shares a sign at the protest on the Ruth Steinkraus Bridge on the Post Road on Friday, June 5, 2020, in Westport, Conn.
John Levin of Westport, who wants change in the Westport School District, at the protest on the Ruth Steinkraus Bridge on the Post Road on Friday, June 5, 2020, in Westport, Conn.
Natasha Johnson, 18, of Westport, takes part in the demonstration at the protest on the Ruth Steinkraus Bridge on the Post Road on Friday, June 5, 2020, in Westport, Conn.
Protestors march up to the police station from the Post Road during the protest on the Ruth Steinkraus Bridge on the Post Road on Friday, June 5, 2020, in Westport, Conn.
Jacqueline Stevens of Westport, who just this week experienced racists slurs yelled at her in Westport, and her son Avery, 6, at the protest on the Ruth Steinkraus Bridge on the Post Road on Friday, June 5, 2020, in Westport, Conn.
WESTON — It was a monumentally tumultuous week throughout the nation and world, and both Weston and Westport were impacted by it.
Enormous rallies took place in Westport on Friday, where more than 1,000 people occupied the Post Road bridge over the Saugatuck River, and in Weston on Sunday afternoon, where more than 500 residents covered the Town Hall green to show their support for change around the Black Lives Matter topic.
“This is a great thing,” Weston First Selectman Chris Spaulding told the crowd, noting the hope it gave him to see what young people were trying to do.
“I have so much faith in our country now … looking at who’s here. I think we’re going to be in good shape.”
In fact, Westport’s rally was organized by several Staples and Weston High School students together, while Weston’s rally was organized by Jordan Blunschi, 15, a sophomore at Weston High.
“I thought it was really important that we raise awareness and educate ourselves in our small town of Weston,” he said.
