Protests come to Longboat Key

As protests continue across the country, a group at Bayport Beach & Tennis Club on Longboat Key held a series of protests in support of Black Lives Matter last week.

On Thursday, June 4, a group of about 20 stood in the rain with signs they’d been holding all week. The protest group was organized by three people who’ve been staying with family on Longboat Key since the coronavirus pandemic started. Sisters Zoe and Ariel Lembeck, along with Matteo Eckerle and permanent resident Beth Smith, helped spread the word of the protest around the community. 

"We just feel like it's really important no matter where you are in the country right now to stand up for what's right and stand up against police brutality,” Zoe Lembreck said. 

They’ve committed to coming out with signs for a peaceful protest 3-4 p.m. daily, even in the rain. On June 4, as the rain came down, more came out. 

“This little raggedy band is so wonderful,” Smith said. “Here come some more friends.” 

The protest has been small and peaceful, with a varying amount of participants day-by-day, but participants are reusing their signs and sharing with others. Social distancing was encouraged, and several participants wore masks. 

“I lived through this protest in the '60s … I didn’t think we’d have to be doing this again,” Elaine Gelb said. “It’s time already to be done with this issue.” 

A Longboat Key police officer stopped by the protest and urged those gathered to be safe alongside Gulf of Mexico Drive, prompting thanks from one person at the protest, who told the officer that the Longboat Key police are wonderful and appreciated. Smith had contacted the police department the previous day, after Zoe told her of an aggressive person who she said stopped near the protest, got out of the car and ripped the sign from her hands. 

“It's been interesting to see,” Zoe said. “For the most part, people have been supportive in this community, but there has definitely been some negative reaction … and it just sort of goes to show that the country is feeling a bit divided, I think, and some people are really angry, but hopefully, somehow we can move straight on and find a way to heal and I think holding police accountable is one way that we can start to heal the nation and move forward.”

The protests will continue, the sisters said, as they keep an eye on how protests across the country continue. They’ve seen more and more participants come over the days, and everyone involved has been peaceful. 

“These protests have been going on forever but nothing ever happens,” participant Carol Measham said. “I think we people in the older demographic have been hearing about it for so long in so many countries … what else can you do? You can express your public ire.”